Model year

2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

Motorcycle, built in Austria. Owner complaints on file from Jul 7, 2021 to Oct 2, 2023.

Recall campaigns covering this model year311k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints2Close to the median 2020 motorcycle
Severity index0.02020 motorcycles average 7.1
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 peaked in 2021, with 1 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.250.50.7512021120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

50% of complaints about the 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 name engine and cooling

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Engine and cooling
1
Speed control
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

3 recall campaigns cover the 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
21V-792Oct 12, 2021Bellow-style gasket on the clutch slave cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which could cause the clutch to become inoperable and…Powertrain8,398Part replacement
21V-627Aug 10, 2021Gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm may be positioned incorrectly, possibly resulting in a loose rear axle nut, causing the…Structure1,506Inspection
20V-170Mar 19, 2020Fuel may leak from the fuel level sensor and fuel pump mounting areaFuel system1,500Software update
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2020 Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

2 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Oct 2, 2023Failure Sep 30, 2023Charlotte, NCVehicle speed control

    Sudden loss of throttle control. Fist incident I had left my house and ridden a 1/2 mile and the throttle suddenly became unresponsive. The motorcycle then after restart would only go aprx 10-15mph with throttle applied. I replaced the battery as it was 3yrs of age. Motorcycle then operated normally for the next trip aprx 5 miles. The following day as I went to turn left and enter a roadway in a gap in traffic the motorcycle lurched forward a few feet and then had no throttle response. This put me into the oncoming traffic lane with no propulsion and caught the other vehicles by surprise. I was almost struck by the oncoming car. In both incidence the throttle which is a fly by wire electronic throttle become completely unresponsive. The LCD dash display says "TC Failure" and the check engine, TC, and ADS lights are all illuminated. When the motorcycle is turned off and back on the problem either goes away for a minute or two or is still active. There are multiple accounts of "Husqvarna Vitpilen TC Failure with loss of throttle" accounts on forums. The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is essentially the same motorcycle mechanically as the KTM 690 Duke. On the forums there are reports of this happening on the Vitpilen 401 and Duke 390 as well. As a motorcyclist with 47 years of ridding experience I have owned 34 motorcycles. This is a serious safety issue know to KTM/ Husqvarna that is going to kill someone. If there was every anything that should be a recall this is it. Feel free to call me [XXX] [XXX] My 2020 Vitpilen 701 is in immaculate condition and has been serviced to specs. It has 2650 miles on it and is 3 yrs old. The warranty for the motorcycle is 2 yrs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    NHTSA complaint 11547690
  2. Filed Jul 7, 2021Failure Jul 7, 2021Wellington, NVEngine

    As I approached an intersection with a stop sign for my direction of travel I pulled the clutch lever in to slow my speed and downshift the motorcycle. The clutch lever pulled all the way to the handlebar without disengaging the clutch. I had to lock/skid the rear brake to avoid being hit by an oncoming automobile. Fortunately the driver of the vehicle saw me skidding past the stop sign and swerved to avoid hitting me. I had to put the motorcycle into first gear and press the starter button as I pushed to get moving again. At the next intersection I again had to use the brakes to kill the engine to avoid being hit by oncoming vehicles. Using the starter motor was once again required to get the motorcycle moving. I had the ABS disabled as I was returning to the highway after traveling on a dirt road. Had the ABS been activated I would not have been able to avoid being hit by the automobile. Husqvarna refused to repair the failed "O Ring" in the Clutch Slave Cylinder claiming it's not a safety issue! Had I not been a rider with 50 plus years of experience this could have been a fatal accident. This is a know problem for Husqvarna/KTM and they refuse to address it. The internet is rife with other riders having the exact same problem. My local Husqvarna dealer offered to sell me an aftermarket replacement Clutch Slave Cylinder even though my motorcycle is still under the original factory warranty. They told me that Husqvarna has refused to cover countless requests to repair the faulty seal under the warranty. Had my wife or daughter been operating the motorcycle there is a good chance they would not have reacted in time to avoid injury or death.

    NHTSA complaint 11423826
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

3 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • HTB2110 Oct 1, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists with certain 2018, 2019 and 2020 motorcycles listed above pertaining to the clutch slave cylinder. On affected motorcycles there is a possibi…
  • HTB2106 Jun 25, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists with the motorcycle models and years listed below in which the alignment of the gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm may be posit…
  • HTB2012 Jul 2, 2020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists with the motorcycle models and years listed above in which the fuel may seep or leak from the fuel level sensor mounting area and fuel pump moun…
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.