K&N recall oil filter due to leak risk

The leaking oil could reach the motorcycle's back wheel and cause a loss of control

K&N recall oil filter due to leak risk

K&N has issued an oil filter recall due to a leakage risk, which could cause oil to come into contact with the rear wheel and brake and result in a loss of control.

The automotive parts manufacturer has offered to replace all KN-204 motorcycle oil filters manufactured between March 1, 2016 and September 30, 2016 free of charge, and is calling owners to check their filter’s manufacturing date code to see if it is affected.

The units covered by this recall have the number/letter combinations of 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 8H or 9H as the second and third characters of the manufacturing date codes, which are imprinted on the ends of the filters.

In a statement on its website, the company says: “K&N has discovered that in certain KN-204 oil filters manufactured between March 1, 2016 and September 30, 2016, oil can leak at the area where a nut (intended for use to remove the oil filter during routine oil changes) was welded to the bottom of the filter canister.

“If there is such a leak, oil could come into contact with the rear tire or rear brake of the motorcycle on which the filter was installed. If this were to occur, it could lead to a loss of control or a crash.”

The company states that it is currently in the process of finalising the recall, after which it will send formal notification of the recall to owners (for whom they have the details) and distributers.

For the meantime, it asks people with the affected filters not to operate their motorcycle until it has been replaced.