The Quick Answer
Kawasaki has recalled Model Year 2026 Teryx4 H2 and Teryx5 H2 side-by-sides over a drive converter sheave that can break under certain operating conditions and discharge metal fragments inside the engine compartment. The recall was announced through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission on June 11, 2026, and covers roughly 3,585 units built between July 2025 and January 2026. The fix is free, confirmed, and available at any authorized Kawasaki dealer. If you already own one, stop driving it until the repair is done. If you are shopping for one used in Canada, checking the VIN before you buy takes five minutes and it matters.
Why this matters if you were reading about the Teryx H2 launch: The Teryx H2 was the most talked-about UTV launch of the year, a 250 horsepower supercharged flagship that instantly became the machine every sport rider wanted. It was barely on lots before Kawasaki issued a stop-drive and stop-sale order in February 2026. The good news for anyone still interested is that the fix is now confirmed, permanent, and free.What Actually Happened, in Order
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Late 2025 | Kawasaki launches the Teryx H2 family: a 999cc supercharged engine, Fox Live Valve dampers, four and five-seat configurations, roughly 250 horsepower. Immediately the most powerful factory side-by-side on the market. |
| February 2026 | Kawasaki issues a stop-drive and stop-sale order for all Teryx H2 models after reports that the CVT drive converter sheave could break apart under certain conditions, expelling metal fragments inside the engine compartment. |
| February to June 2026 | Owners are told to park their machines while Kawasaki engineers a permanent fix. Nineteen reports of sheave breakage are logged. No injuries reported. |
| June 11, 2026 | Kawasaki announces the confirmed repair in coordination with the CPSC. The stop-ride is officially lifted. Dealers begin scheduling free repairs. |
What the Repair Actually Fixes
This was not a software patch dressed up as a fix. Kawasaki's remedy addresses the failure point three separate ways:
- Hardware replacement. The moveable drive converter sheave assembly itself is replaced.
- Physical protection added. A clutch cover guard is installed, containing any future fragment discharge even if a failure were to recur.
- Software update. The Engine Control Unit is reprogrammed as part of the same repair visit.
Replacing hardware, adding physical containment, and retuning the software all in one repair visit is the kind of fix that puts a stop-ride to bed permanently rather than papering over the symptom. All three are done in a single dealer visit at no cost to the owner.
Which Machines Are Affected
The recall is specific. Not every Teryx is included, and colour is not a reliable way to tell.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Models | Teryx4 H2, Teryx4 H2 Deluxe eS, Teryx5 H2 Deluxe eS |
| Model numbers | KRT1000D, KRT1000F, KRT1000G |
| Build window | July 2025 through January 2026 |
| Colours affected | Both Lime Green and Ice Gray are included, so colour alone does not confirm a machine is safe |
| VIN location | Right rear of the main frame, underneath the rear fender, above the rear wheel |
| Units affected | Approximately 3,585 sold through authorized Kawasaki dealers |
Buying a Used Teryx H2 in Canada: What to Check
A recalled machine with a completed repair is not a problem machine. It is arguably a safer one than the day it left the factory, since it has the hardware fix, the protective guard and the updated software. The risk is buying one where the repair was never done. Body panels, graphics kits and aftermarket wraps are common on sport side-by-sides and can obscure the details that matter, so do not rely on colour or trim level alone.
- Find the VIN yourself. Right rear of the main frame, underneath the rear fender, above the rear wheel. Do not take the seller's word for the model or build date.
- Check the recall status directly with Kawasaki. Call Kawasaki Motors USA at 855-878-4217, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific, or check status through the Kawasaki owner center recall page online. Do this before you agree on price, not after.
- Ask for the repair paperwork. A completed recall repair generates dealer documentation. If the seller cannot produce it, that is a red flag worth pressing on, not skipping past.
- If you bought it used, traded for it, or it is a demo unit, still check. Recall status follows the VIN, not the original purchaser. A private sale does not clear the recall automatically.
- Do not assume a machine is safe based on model year alone. Only units built between July 2025 and January 2026 are affected. Confirm the actual build date against the VIN rather than the model year on the title.
This is exactly the kind of detail an independent inspection catches that a casual look-over does not. If you are buying any used side-by-side in Canada, especially a recent high-output model, book a pre-purchase inspection through MudWheelz, or work through our free checklist yourself before you hand over payment.
Does This Change Whether the Teryx H2 Is Worth Buying?
Not fundamentally. The Teryx H2 remains the most powerful factory side-by-side on the market, at 999cc supercharged and roughly 250 horsepower, with Fox Live Valve dampers and a chassis that reviewers have consistently described as planted and composed rather than unruly despite the output. Kawasaki's response, hardware fix, physical containment and software update in one repair, is the kind of remedy that resolves the underlying issue rather than working around it.
What it does change is the checklist. A machine this new, with this much power, recalled this recently, is not one to buy on a handshake. Confirm the VIN, confirm the repair was completed, and get the paperwork. Once that is done, you are buying a machine with a documented fix rather than an open question.
If you are weighing the Teryx H2 against other premium side-by-sides, browse used side-by-sides for sale in Canada or compare specs across models before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wrong with the Kawasaki Teryx H2?
The drive converter sheave, a component of the CVT clutch system, could break apart under certain operating conditions and discharge metal fragments inside the engine compartment. Kawasaki received 19 reports of this happening. No injuries were reported.
Is the Kawasaki Teryx H2 recall fixed now?
Yes. Kawasaki announced a confirmed, permanent repair on June 11, 2026, in coordination with the CPSC. The fix replaces the sheave assembly, adds a clutch cover guard, and reprograms the ECU. The stop-ride order has been lifted and repairs are free at authorized Kawasaki dealers.
How do I know if a used Teryx H2 has had the recall repair done?
Check the VIN, located on the right rear of the main frame underneath the rear fender, against Kawasaki's recall database, and ask the seller for the dealer repair paperwork. Recall status follows the VIN, so it applies even if the machine has changed owners since the original sale.
Which Teryx H2 models are affected by the recall?
The Teryx4 H2, Teryx4 H2 Deluxe eS, and Teryx5 H2 Deluxe eS, model numbers KRT1000D, KRT1000F and KRT1000G, built between July 2025 and January 2026. Both Lime Green and Ice Gray colour units are included.
Is it safe to buy a used Kawasaki Teryx H2 in Canada?
Yes, provided the recall repair has been completed and documented. A machine with the fix done has the updated hardware, the protective guard and the reprogrammed ECU, addressing the original failure point directly. Confirm the VIN and request the repair paperwork before you buy.
Recall information changes and should always be confirmed directly with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer before purchase. Contact Kawasaki Motors USA at 855-878-4217 or check status at the official Kawasaki owner center recall page. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for confirming recall status on a specific VIN.
