Honda Recalls Thousands of Motorcycles Over Engine and Electrical Concerns

American Honda Motor Co. is initiating recalls for several motorcycle models due to potential engine and electrical system defects that could increase the risk of a crash or injury, according to reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recalls encompass the 2024-2026 Honda CBR600RR, the 2025 Honda CB1000SP, and the 2024-2025 Honda CBR650R.

For the 2024-2026 Honda CBR600RR, a manufacturing issue involving the cylinder surface finishing of the engine block may lead to excessive engine oil consumption. If the oil level drops below the minimum requirement, oil pressure can decrease, potentially causing the connecting rod bearing to seize. This seizure could result in the rear wheel locking up or engine oil contacting the exhaust system, thereby elevating the risk of a crash, injury, or fire. The recall affects 1,253 motorcycles produced between January 10, 2024, and November 12, 2025. Warnings for this issue may include low engine oil levels or increased oil consumption observed during routine inspections.

Similarly, the 2025 Honda CB1000SP is being recalled due to improper piston and piston ring specifications. This defect can also lead to excessive engine oil consumption. As with the CBR600RR, a low oil level can decrease oil pressure, potentially causing connecting rod bearing seizure, which presents the same risks of rear wheel lock-up, engine oil contact with the exhaust, and subsequent crash, injury, or fire. This recall covers 452 units manufactured from September 30, 2024, to August 22, 2025. Owners may notice low engine oil levels or increased oil consumption during scheduled maintenance.

The 2024-2025 Honda CBR650R faces a separate issue related to its turn signal switch wire harness. Due to its proximity to the left-side middle cowl stay, vibration and friction during normal operation can wear away the wire harness insulation, exposing the copper core. This can cause an electrical short and blow a fuse. The consequential failure of the turn signals, brake lights, license plate lights, speedometer, and horn means riders may be unable to alert other drivers to their actions or gauge their speed, increasing the likelihood of a crash or injury. This recall involves 2,155 motorcycles produced between March 20, 2024, and May 14, 2025. Honda has received three warranty claims related to this issue, though no injuries or deaths have been reported. The affected wiring harnesses are manufactured by Thai Honda Co., Ltd. in Thailand.

In all three recall cases, American Honda Motor Co. plans to notify registered owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their affected motorcycles to an authorized Honda Powersports dealer. The dealerships will inspect and repair the identified defects. For the CBR650R, the repair involves addressing the harness and ensuring its proper installation, as the condition was corrected in production on May 20, 2025. For the CBR600RR and CB1000SP, the remedy involves a repair, though details on how the remedy component differs from the recalled component were not specified in the provided information. Honda has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who may have incurred expenses related to these issues.

Dealer notification for all affected models began around December 12, 2025. Interim owner notification is scheduled to commence around February 16, 2026, with the phased recall remedy owner notification to follow. Owners will be able to check if their vehicle is affected by its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on a date to be announced. Honda advises owners of affected motorcycles to park them outside and not to drive them until the recall repairs have been completed, due to the potential safety risks.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

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