KTM North America Inc. is recalling its defective motorcycles made for off-road use because of a front fork failure, according to a consumer safety alert issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The front fork inner tube on the off-road motorcycles can crack and separate from the front fork axle posing a risk of injury or death to the rider. This defective product recall involves model year 2009 KTM off-road motorcycles. The model name and logo are located on the right and left shrouds. The recalled models include: 125SX, 150SX, 250XC-W and 300XC-W. These products, made in Austria, were sold by KTM dealers nationwide from December 2008 through April 2009 for between $6,000 and $8,000.

So far no personal injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of these product defects. Consumers are, however, asked to stop using these motorcycles immediately and contact their local KTM dealer to schedule a free repair. Registered owners of the recalled off-road motorcycles are being sent a direct notice. If you would like more information about this recall, please call KTM at 1-888-985-6090.

This is apparently not the first time KTM has had product defect issues. In fact, KTM issued an identical product recall in April of its 2009 Duke and SMC motorcycles. In those products too, the company said the front forks could develop cracks resulting in the possibility of the inner tube separating from the axle clamp. This defect was caused, officials say, by improper heat treatment of the front fork inner tubes from the factory. So, essentially, it was a manufacturing defect.

Most product defects usually involve manufacturing defects or design defects. Either can be extremely dangerous because in vehicles what these defects mean is there is an increased potential to crash and cause serious personal injury or death to the occupants. If you have been seriously injured, or if you have lost someone as a result of a defective product, please contact a reputed product defect law firm to find out more about your legal rights and options.

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