RoadVitals

2018 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Nov 9, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Oct 12, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), engine and fuel system categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)250.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
21V792000

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:SLAVE CYLINDER

Oct 12, 2021
8,398 units potentially affected
The defect: KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 690 Enduro R, Vitpilen 701, 701 Enduro, 701 Supermoto, 2019-2020 690 SMC R, Svartpilen, 2018-2019 690 Duke, and 2020 701 Enduro LR motorcycles. The bellow-style gasket on the clutch slave cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which could cause the clutch to become inoperable and not disengage when the clutch lever is pulled in.
The risk: An inoperable clutch increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect the clutch slave cylinder and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 3, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's numbers for this recall are KTB2112 and HTB2110.
KTM North America, Inc.Manufacturer number KTB2112/HTB2110View on NHTSA.gov
21V627000

STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:FAIRING/COWLING/WINDSCREEN:MOUNTING FASTENERS/HARDWARE; SUSPENSION:REAR:MOTORCYCLE FORK/SWINGARM

Aug 10, 2021
1,506 units potentially affected
The defect: KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Husqvarna Motorcycle 701 Vitpilen and 2019-2020 701 Svartpilen motorcycles. The gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm may be positioned incorrectly, possibly resulting in a loose rear axle nut, causing the license plate holder to contact the rear wheel.
The risk: License plate bracket interference with the rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and realign the gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm, and inspect the tightness of the rear wheel axle collar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is HTB2106.
KTM North America, Inc.Manufacturer number HTB2106View on NHTSA.gov
20V170000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Mar 19, 2020
1,500 units potentially affected
The defect: KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen and 2018-2020 Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen motorcycles. Fuel may leak from the fuel level sensor and fuel pump mounting area.
The risk: A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source, and increase the risk of damage or injury.
The remedy: KTM will notify owners, and Husqvarna Motorcycle Dealers will replace the affected fuel tank, install new gaskets, and update software for proper fuel calibration, free of charge. Owners will be notified to take their motorcycles to a Husqvarna Motorcycle North America, Inc. (HMNA) dealership for repairs. The recall began July 7, 2020. Owners may contact HMNA customer service at 1-888-985-6090. HMNA's number for this recall is HTB2012.
KTM North America, Inc.Manufacturer number HTB2012View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 9, 2024

the motorcycle is unsafe and not operating properly due to clutch not working which is a result of the Clutch Slave cylinder recall which also damaged other parts that Husqvarna is refusing to cover. the motorcycle is at PCP motorsports which is an authorized dealer for Husqvarna. after directly contacting Husqvarna and provided them with further information they still declined coverage and fixing the bike

NHTSA ID
11624339
Incident
Sep 1, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 13, 2021

I was driving in heavy traffic on the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, NY on a 2018 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 motorcycle when my hydraulic clutch suddenly stopped functioning. The bike has only about 70 miles on the odometer. This clutch problem caused the motorcycle to jerk to a stop. It was difficult to shift into neutral to restart the vehicle and there was a long line of cars behind me on the bridge with no breakdown lane. I was barely able to get the vehicle off the bridge. Every time I had to slow down to avoid a collision, the bike would stall. I learned that the problem was pervasive among the motorcycles with this hydraulic clutch slave cylinder system and saw evidence of hydraulic fluid leaking under the slave cylinder. There are many Husqvarna Vitpilen owners' discussion groups that are discussing the problem and how to solve it. The consensus seems to be that the OEM hydraulic clutch slave cylinder is defective. There is no warning lamp for this issue, and the manufacturer and dealer had not announced anything about it. I had heard about it from other owners of this kind of vehicle. The bike can not be safely driven with this defect and I feel lucky to be alive after the incident I described above.

NHTSA ID
11424560
Incident
Jul 9, 2021
Fuel system
Filed May 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HUSQVARNA VITPILEN 701. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V170000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO THREE BROTHERS RACING (1560 SUPERIOR AVE # C, COSTA MESA, CA 92627, (949) 642-0546) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE IF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11326002
Incident
Apr 8, 2020

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

HTB2110

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:SLAVE CYLINDER; STRUCTURE

Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists with certain 2018, 2019 and 2020 motorcycles listed above pertaining to the clutch slave cylinder. On affected motorcycles there is a possibility that the bellow style gasket can be damaged caused by deviations during assembly. Damage to the bellow gasket may affect the function of the clutch slave cylinder. This could result in the rider noticing a change in shifting behavior and the clutch becoming inoperable to the point where the clutch will not disengage when the clutch lever is pulled in. To ensure the highest level of safety, performance, reliability and customer satisfaction, it is necessary to replace the clutch slave cylinder on all affected motorcycles that have a bellow style gasket clutch slave cylinder mounted (Fig. 1).

HTB2106

STRUCTURE; STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:FAIRING/COWLING/WINDSCREEN:MOUNTING FASTENERS/HARDWARE; SUSPENSION:REAR:MOTORCYCLE FORK/SWINGARM

Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists with the motorcycle models and years listed below in which the alignment of the gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm may be positioned incorrectly. This can lead to twisting of the license plate holder and subsequently to the loosening of the rear wheel axle collar nut. For this reason, the correct mounting position of the license plate holder and torque of the rear axle collar nut must be checked. 2018, 2019, 2020 – VITPILEN 701 2019, 2020 – SVARTPILEN 701

HTB2012

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists with the motorcycle models and years listed above in which the fuel may seep or leak from the fuel level sensor mounting area and fuel pump mounting area. To ensure the highest level of safety, performance, reliability and customer satisfaction, it is necessary to install a newly developed fuel tank that has an increased wall thickness along with new gaskets for the fuel level sensor, fuel pump, and fuel tank insert on all affected models. The new fuel tank with thicker walls has an improved sealing behavior.

TB1806

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

During the course of quality controls, Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc has found that the tolerances between the decompression weight and decompression screw (marked in blue) are not in specification on select 2018 701 model motorcycles. These auto-decompression system components must be replaced to prevent premature wear.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020230—
2019730—
2018Viewing330—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.