Staying Aware of Motorcycle Recalls For Your Safety
Riders understand the exhaustive work that motorcycle manufacturers put into their products. Unfortunately, mistakes happen.
Occasionally, defective motorcycle parts roll off the line, or distributors or suppliers may damage them before they make it onto your motorcycle. These faulty parts can lead to serious accidents.
Consequently, motorcycle manufacturers issue dozens of recalls each year. These recalls include bikes with failing brake pads, overheating engines, broken wheel rims, leaking fuel tanks, and more. All these issues can increase the risk of a crash and personal injury.
Make sure you register your bike and keep your address up to date so you will be notified if your model has a recall. You also can check websites like ConsumerReports.org for news regarding recalls.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Recall
Here are a few examples of recent motorcycle recalls and other defects.
- Brake Failure: Some motorcycle recalls have occurred because brake pads have malfunctioned, leading to a sudden loss of braking efficiency and increase in stopping distance.
- Engine Failure: One motorcycle manufacturer had to recall many of its police motorcycles because the additional police accessories were causing a main fuse to blow, stalling the engine.
- Fuel Tank Malfunctions: Some years ago, another manufacturer recalled almost 1,000 motorcycles because drying raw materials were causing fuel leaks. An ignition source near a fuel leak created a fire risk.
- Handlebar: A manufacturer had to recall over 1,000 motorcycles because improper heat treatment was causing handlebar clamps to crack, allowing the handlebar to move from its set position.
- Tires: Defective tires can cause motorcycle accidents that involve tire blowouts, skidding, crossing lanes, hydroplaning, spinning, swerving, and loss of control.
- Electronics Issues: A major motorcycle manufacturer recently recalled a number of bikes due to a problem with the engine control module (ECM) that would cause the gear position indicator to falsely display “neutral” when a gear was engaged. This could’ve caused the motorcycle to move unexpectedly.
Be Aware of Your Rights
It’s important for motorcycle riders to understand the dangers of defective motorcycle parts—both for legal reasons and their own safety. A biker injured in an accident that involves a faulty motorcycle part may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or supplier.
Some motorcycle recalls have even initiated large lawsuits. In 2010, a manufacturer faced a class action lawsuit after reports from consumers claimed that defective piston rings made some motorcycles prone to on-the-road failure during use, putting riders at serious risk for a crash.
In 2011, another motorcycle manufacturer also faced a class action lawsuit because some of its motorcycles had defective designs that caused their engines to overheat and ignite clothing. This defect inflicted burns to riders and their passengers.
Defective motorcycle parts are just one potential cause of a motorcycle accident. Bikers need to ride as safely as possible, but that isn’t always enough to avoid injuries. If a defect causes you to wreck your bike, the manufacturers, suppliers, and/or distributors may be held liable for resulting injuries