2026 started quite well for Harley-Davidson, thanks to a brilliant new lineup of touring bikes. But just a few months later, the brand is undergoing some troubles. The biggest one comes in the form of a massive recall for a large chunk of the Grand American Touring range. The total number of affected bikes is close to 90,000, making this one of the largest recalls for the American giant in recent times.
The Harley-Davidson Touring Bike Recall Is Due To A Faulty Breather Port
Harley-Davidson’s latest recall is directly related to the air intake system. According to filings posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the breather port might contain a plastic material blocking the air intake. That can lead to pressure buildup in the crankcase. If you then remove the dipstick, it can cause the engine oil to spurt out and harm whoever is opening.
Harley says there are a few warnings that can occur due to the issue:
- Smoking from the exhaust system
- Excessive oil consumption
- Detached breather hose
- An audible release of pressure when removing the dipstick
Chronology Of The Defect
Diving deeper, the issue first came to light in the first quarter of 2025, followed by a visual inspection by the inspectors. There was no conclusive proof at the time. Then, in February 2026, it was discovered there might be a very thin plastic layer blocking the breather port. A technical committee stepped in in March and discovered that up to 10 percent of the incoming parts exhibited a blocked breather port. A month later, a recall was issued, and there has been only one injury potentially related to the matter.
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Over 88,000 Motorcycles Are Potentially Affected By The Recall
The recall applies to nearly all the new touring bikes and some cruisers in the Harley-Davidson range, powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine. Considering this is the new staple engine, the total number amounts to a whopping 88,039. That said, Harley says only 0.4 percent of these are expected to suffer from the issue at hand. In fact, Harley is so confident about this that it states “No remedy components will be required. The majority of the affected population is expected to only require an inspection. Motorcycles which demonstrate the recall condition will be repaired without requiring additional parts.”
Affected Harley Models For The Recall
- 2025-2026 Breakout (2,618 units)
- 2026 Road Glide Limited (1,067 units)
- 2024-2026 Road Glide (47,241 units)
- 2026 Road Glide 3 (629 units)
- 2025 Street Glide Ultra (3,570 units)
- 2026 Street Glide Limited (1,048 units)
- 2024-2026 Street Glide (28,612 units)
- 2026 Street Glide 3 (1,262 units)
Source: Harley-Davidson, NHTSA