2016 Suzuki GSX-S1000, GSX-S1000F Recalled for Brake Fluid Leak
Suzuki is recalling the 2016 GSX-S1000 and GSX-S1000F because of a potential brake fluid leak from the front brake calipers. The recall affects a total of 600 units in the U.S.: 489 GSX-S1000 (including ABS versions) motorcycles produced from July 8 to Aug. 24 and 111 GSX-S1000F units produced from July 21 to July 27; units produced outside of those dates are not affected.
According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, brake fluid may leak from the seal groove of the caliper’s piston cylinder, potentially causing a loss of braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash. The documents also indicate that 2016 GSX-R1000 models produced from July 16 to Aug. 26 may be affected by the same problem, though no recall has been announced as yet by NHTSA.
Suzuki attributes the problem to a surface treatment applied by supplier Fuji Corporation as part of its process of coloring the caliper. Due to a lack of sufficient sealing, some of this liquid treatment may have entered the brake piston cylinder, affecting surface of the piston seal groove.
The problem was first noticed in September when a U.S. dealer noticed a brake fluid leak on a bike in the showroom. The brake components of that motorcycle were sent to Suzuki’s Japanese headquarters for examination. In October, Suzuki engineers suspected the surface treatment chemicals were the cause and in November, the company initiated the recall process. From the first report to Nov. 13, Suzuki had received 52 field reports of brake fluid leakage.
Suzuki dealers will replace the front brake calipers on the recalled GSX-S1000 and GSX-1000F motorcycles. We will provide an update if a similar recall for the GSX-R1000 is announced.
[Source: NHTSA]
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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