Ducati is recalling 1,440 Panigale V4 and Streetfighter V4 motorcycles because the rear brake hose runs too close to the exhaust system, a defect that can cause sudden loss of rear braking. The campaign, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as 26V050, covers 2025 and 2026 Panigale V4/V4 S and Streetfighter V4/V4 S models built across roughly a year of production.

Key Points

• Recall: NHTSA campaign 26V050, filed January 28, 2026
• Units affected: 1,440 motorcycles, an estimated 1.8 percent of which may carry the defect
• Models: 2025-2026 Panigale V4/V4 S and Streetfighter V4/V4 S
• Defect: Rear brake hose lacks adequate heat shielding from the exhaust
• Remedy: Free thermal shield replacement at Ducati dealers

What NHTSA’s Filing Says

According to the recall report, the rear brake hose that connects the ABS control unit to the rear caliper lacks sufficient heat shielding from the exhaust manifold. When exhaust heat combines with braking pressure, the hose can fail and cause a sudden loss of rear brake function, raising the risk of a crash. That combination of heat and hard braking is more likely during spirited street riding or track days, exactly the kind of use these two model lines are built and marketed for. The Brake Report notes Ducati estimates the defect could affect up to 1.8 percent of the recalled population, a relatively narrow failure rate spread across a wide production window.

Which Bikes Are Covered

• 2025 Streetfighter V4/V4 S: 264 units, built March 13 through April 28, 2025
• 2025 Panigale V4/V4 S: 1,098 units, built September 6, 2024 through July 25, 2025
• 2026 Streetfighter V4/V4 S: 61 units, built June 4 through July 7, 2025
• 2026 Panigale V4/V4 S: 17 units, built June 23 through July 1, 2025

Ducati North America filed the report on January 28, 2026, Yahoo Autos confirmed in its own review of the paperwork. The affected VINs span nearly 16 months of assembly, which is part of why the recalled population is so much larger than the number of bikes Ducati believes actually carry the flaw.

What Owners Should Do

• Note any unusual rear brake feel, especially after hard or repeated braking that heats the exhaust.
• Expect a recall letter. Ducati dealers were notified February 3 through 10, 2026, with owner letters following March 3 through 10, 2026.
• Schedule a free dealer visit. Technicians will replace the rear brake hose’s thermal shield with an extended, more protective version at no cost.
• Consider easing off extended track sessions until the fix is installed, since repeated heat cycling is the specific condition tied to the failure.

Owners can check their bike’s status by VIN through a Ducati dealer or NHTSA’s recall lookup tool using campaign number 26V050.