Honda Recalls CMX300, CMX500, and CL500 Motorcycles Over Steering Hazard

Source: NHTSA · United States

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, the CDC PLACES population-level health analysis, and the CMS Hospital Compare quality data, Areazine publishes editorial articles drawing on more than 19,000 U.S. city profiles. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling approximately 19,406 motorcycles because a handlebar lock screw may loosen and interfere with steering, posing a crash risk.

What this NHTSA vehicle recall tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by NHTSA on April 5, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Vehicle Recalls — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly NHTSA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized NHTSA vehicle recall is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (recall, product-safety, nhtsa, Motorcycle) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

What Happened

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) has issued a recall for several motorcycle models due to a defect in the steering assembly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a handlebar lock screw may loosen and completely detach from the vehicle.

Which Products Are Affected

The recall impacts approximately 19,406 units. The following models and years are included:

  • Honda CMX300: Model years 2023, 2024, and 2025
  • Honda CMX500: Model years 2023, 2024, and 2025
  • Honda CL500: Model years 2023, 2024, and 2025

What You Should Do

Owners of the affected motorcycles are advised to contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's internal identification number for this recall is KUO. Authorized dealers will replace the lock screw and apply a thread lock compound to prevent future loosening, free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by May 8, 2026. Owners can also check if their specific Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is included in the recall by visiting NHTSA.gov starting March 21, 2026.

Why This Matters

If the lock screw detaches, it can become lodged between the motorcycle's frame and the steering stem. This interference can restrict the rider's ability to steer the vehicle, significantly increasing the risk of a crash or serious injury.

Source

Information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under Campaign Number 26V146000.

Original source: NHTSA Official Notice ↗

All Vehicle Recalls →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NHTSA vehicle recall.

What is this NHTSA vehicle recall about?
American Honda Motor Co. is recalling approximately 19,406 motorcycles because a handlebar lock screw may loosen and interfere with steering, posing a crash risk.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NHTSA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects United States. Check with NHTSA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Vehicle Recalls updates?
Browse the full Vehicle Recalls feed on Areazine at areazine.com/recalls/vehicles/ for the latest updates from NHTSA and other agencies.