Honda Recalls 64,532 Rebel 250 and CL250 Motorcycles Over Lock Bolt Defect

Honda's Thai manufacturing arm notified Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on October 8, 2026, that 64,532 Rebel 250 and CL250 motorcycles need to have their handlebar-lock bolts replaced, according to Honda's official recall notice and Japanese wire reports.

What was found

According to Honda's filing, the bolts that fasten the handlebar lock — the mechanism riders use to secure the steering when the motorcycle is parked — were tightened with an improper tool during assembly, leaving some units with insufficient clamping force.

Honda says continued use can let the bolts work loose. The company's notice states two possible consequences: the lock may fail to engage when a rider tries to secure the parked bike, or, in a worse scenario, a bolt that comes fully loose can wedge itself between the frame and the steering stem, keeping the handlebars from turning and potentially causing the motorcycle to crash.

Which motorcycles are affected

The recall spans three production groups of two models, built across roughly eight years at Thai Honda's plant, according to the manufacturer's notice filed with MLIT.

Honda's remedy is to replace the handlebar-lock bolts on every affected unit with new parts and retighten them to the specified torque, at no cost to owners.

A second Japanese filing for the same defect in 2026

The October filing is not Honda's first move on this issue this year. On March 12, 2026, Honda filed a separate recall with MLIT for 31,470 units of Rebel 250 (8BK-MC49) and CL250 (8BK-MC57) built between December 14, 2022, and March 19, 2025, citing the identical cause: insufficient bolt clamping force in the handlebar-lock assembly, with the same risk of a loosened bolt jamming the steering.

The same type of defect has also triggered recalls outside Japan on different Rebel variants this year. American Honda filed a campaign with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covering 19,406 motorcycles in March 2026, later expanded on July 30 to 43,913 units of the Rebel 300, Rebel 500 and SCL500. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) lists a related campaign, reference 16305R, covering 6,977 vehicles including CMX500 and CL500/CL250 type designations. In both filings, the loosened part is described as a handlebar lock screw or bolt that can come free and lodge between the frame and the steering stem, potentially obstructing steering.

Honda has not published a single combined global tally for every market, and the Japanese filings (Rebel 250, CL250) and the U.S./German filings (Rebel 300, Rebel 500, SCL500, CMX500, CL500) cover different model variants rather than identical vehicles.

What is known and what isn't

• Known: the defect traces to an assembly-line tightening tool that did not consistently apply enough clamping force to the handlebar-lock bolts.
• Known: Honda's fix is a free bolt replacement and retorque at dealers.
• Known: this is Honda's second Japanese filing on this exact defect in 2026, after a March filing for an earlier production batch.
• Not stated in the reviewed filings or news reports: any injuries or crashes linked to the defect so far.

What owners should do

Honda's recall notice directs owners of affected Rebel 250 and CL250 units to contact an authorized Honda motorcycle dealer to have the handlebar-lock bolts inspected and replaced free of charge. Honda's motorcycle customer service line listed on the March filing operates from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Japan time, with the notice stating it is closed during the year-end and New Year holiday period.