New Delhi: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has announced a voluntary recall of 96 units of the Honda Rebel 500 in India over a potential issue with the handle-lock fixing screw.
The affected motorcycles were manufactured between April and August 2025. According to Honda, the handle-lock fixing screw on the affected bikes may not have been tightened to the specified torque during assembly. Under certain conditions, the screw could loosen and potentially affect steering movement.
Honda said no incidents related to the identified issue had been reported in India as of September 30, 2026. The recall is being carried out as a precautionary measure as part of a wider global recall campaign.
The company will replace the affected handle-lock fixing screw free of charge, irrespective of whether the motorcycle is still covered under warranty.
96 Honda Rebel 500 motorcycles affected
The recall is limited to 96 Honda Rebel 500 motorcycles sold in India.
Honda has identified motorcycles manufactured between April and August 2025 as being within the affected production period. Owners of Rebel 500 motorcycles from this period can check whether their individual vehicle is covered by entering its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on Honda’s recall campaign portal.
The recall does not apply to every Rebel 500 sold in India. Owners therefore need to verify their motorcycle’s VIN to determine whether it is included in the campaign.
The recall follows Honda’s identification of a possible assembly-related issue involving the handle-lock fixing screw.
Handle-lock screw could affect steering
The issue concerns a screw used in the motorcycle’s handle-lock mechanism.
According to HMSI, the fastener may not have been tightened according to the specified torque during manufacturing. If the screw loosens over time, it could potentially interfere with steering movement.
Because steering is directly related to motorcycle control, Honda has opted to replace the component on the affected motorcycles rather than wait for a problem to occur.
The company has stated that no related incidents have been reported in India as of September 30.
The recall is therefore a preventive action intended to address the identified manufacturing concern.
Free replacement irrespective of warranty
Owners of affected Rebel 500 motorcycles will not have to pay for the recall repair.
HMSI will replace the handle-lock fixing screw free of charge, regardless of the motorcycle’s warranty status. The repair will be carried out through Honda’s authorised BigWing dealership network.
Honda has said its authorised dealerships will coordinate with affected customers and schedule appointments for the replacement.
The company will contact owners through phone calls, SMS or email as part of the recall campaign.
Owners who receive a notification are advised to contact an authorised BigWing dealership and arrange an appointment.
Recall campaign to begin in November
The recall campaign is scheduled to begin in the first week of November 2026.
Authorised Honda BigWing dealerships will carry out the replacement of the affected component.
Honda is expected to contact customers before the campaign begins so that appointments can be arranged and the repair process can be completed in an organised manner.
The company has also provided an online facility for owners who want to independently check whether their motorcycle is covered by the recall.
How to check if your Rebel 500 is affected
Honda Rebel 500 owners can check their motorcycle’s recall status using the vehicle’s 17-digit VIN or chassis number.
The official Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India recall page allows owners to select the relevant model and enter the vehicle identification details to determine whether the motorcycle is included in the campaign.
Owners whose motorcycles are listed under the recall can then contact their nearest authorised BigWing dealership and schedule the replacement.
The VIN or frame number can generally be found on documents such as the vehicle registration certificate, insurance documents and sales or service invoices. Honda also provides information on where owners can locate the identification number on the motorcycle.
What Rebel 500 owners should know
The recall concerns a specific production batch rather than the entire Rebel 500 range in India.
Owners whose motorcycles were manufactured outside the April-August 2025 period should still verify their VIN if they want confirmation of their vehicle’s recall status.
Honda has advised customers whose motorcycles are covered by the campaign to contact an authorised dealership and arrange the replacement.
Since the identified issue has the potential to affect steering movement, owners should not ignore a recall notification. The replacement is being provided without charge.
Honda Rebel 500 in India
The Honda Rebel 500 is a premium motorcycle sold through Honda’s BigWing network in India.
The motorcycle uses a 471cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin petrol engine paired with a six-speed gearbox. It produces about 46 PS of peak power and 43 Nm of maximum torque.
The model is positioned as a cruiser-style motorcycle and has been part of Honda’s premium motorcycle portfolio in India since its introduction in 2021.
The current recall is unrelated to the motorcycle’s engine or transmission. It specifically concerns the handle-lock fixing screw identified in a section of motorcycles manufactured during the specified period.
No related incidents reported in India
HMSI has said that no incidents connected to the identified handle-lock issue had been reported in India as of September 30, 2026.
Nevertheless, Honda has initiated the voluntary recall as a precaution.
Vehicle recalls allow manufacturers to inspect or repair potentially affected vehicles before a suspected defect results in a safety incident. In this case, Honda is replacing the component at no cost to owners.
The campaign will allow the company and its authorised dealerships to identify the affected motorcycles and complete the required repair.
Conclusion
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has recalled 96 Rebel 500 motorcycles manufactured between April and August 2025 because of a potential issue with the handle-lock fixing screw. The screw may loosen and potentially affect steering movement.
The recall campaign will begin in the first week of November 2026, with free replacements available at authorised Honda BigWing dealerships. Owners can check their motorcycle’s VIN through Honda’s official recall portal to find out whether their bike is affected.