Honda recall 26V-500: Handlebar Lock Screw May Detach and Interfere with Steering
A detached screw may lodge between the frame and stem, interfering with steering and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Campaign facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 26V500000 (26V-500)
- Manufacturer number
- KU8
- Filed by
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Report received
- July 30, 2026
- Component
- Steering: steering wheel/handle bar; Steering:critical fasteners
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 43,913
- Model years
- 2017–2026
- Built between
- January 17, 2017 and September 19, 2025
- Owner letters
- September 28, 2026
- Recall initiated by
- The manufacturer
- Remedy completion rate
- 1.15% (latest quarterly report)
What is wrong
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2023, 2025 CMX500, 2017-2023, 2025-2026 CMX300, and 2025 Honda SCL500 motorcycles. The handlebar lock screw may loosen and detach.
The risk
A detached screw may lodge between the frame and stem, interfering with steering and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Why steering defects matter: Losing steering assist suddenly makes the wheel much heavier to turn, and a mechanical failure can disconnect steering altogether.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the lock screw and apply thread lock, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 29, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KU8. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V146. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 4, 2026.
About the steering
The steering system connects the steering wheel to the road wheels through the column, shaft, gear or rack, tie rods and, on most vehicles, electric or hydraulic power assist.
Vehicles covered by campaign 26V-500
- Honda CMX300 202620252023202220212020201920182017
- Honda CMX500 2025202320222021202020182017
What to do
- Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s lookup (below) to confirm that your vehicle is included and that the repair has not already been done.
- Call a dealer for the brand and book the repair. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V-500 and the manufacturer’s number KU8.
- Pay attention to new noises, play or heaviness in the steering, and mention any you have noticed when you book.
- Safety recall repairs are carried out free of charge by the manufacturer’s dealers. If you already paid for this repair yourself, ask the manufacturer about reimbursement and keep your receipt.
Check by VIN
A campaign rarely covers every vehicle of a model year. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.
Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.
Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.
The official record
This page reproduces the campaign as filed with NHTSA. The NHTSA record is authoritative — if anything here differs, follow the agency.
Open campaign 26V-500 on NHTSA.gov