Suzuki Motor USA recently announced an urgent safety notice and a sales halt for certain models of the 2024 GSX-8R. The reason for this action is a potential problem with the motorcycles' drive chain. On February 7, 2024, it became known that the drive chains on some of these vehicles may not have been riveted correctly, which could cause them to come loose while riding. Such a malfunction poses an increased risk of accidents.
It is estimated that around 360 motorcycles could be affected by this problem, which corresponds to around 20 percent of the total number. The affected motorcycles were produced between December 1 and December 11, 2023, with vehicle identification numbers (VIN) ranging from JS1EM13B3R7100573 to JS1EM13B5R7100932. The fault was traced back to defective riveting of the drive chain by the supplier RK Japan. Suzuki has subsequently revised its quality control procedures so that motorcycles manufactured after February 6, 2024 should no longer be affected by this problem.
Suzuki’s remedial actions
Suzuki Motor USA has announced that it will notify its dealer network of the issue on February 14, 2024. Owners of affected 2024 GSX-8Rs will be notified beginning February 19, 2024 and will be asked to schedule an appointment with their local authorized Suzuki dealer. There, the drive chain will be checked for proper riveting. If it is found that the chain has not been riveted correctly, both the chain and the front and rear sprockets will be replaced free of charge. This measure applies both to motorcycles already sold and to affected motorcycles still in the dealer’s stock.
The campaign number for this recall is 3A02 and affected customers can contact Suzuki USA customer service at 1-714-996-7040. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can be contacted at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or online at www.nhtsa.gov.
