Shimano to recall 760,000 Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranksets due to risk of failure

Shimano has this week issued a worldwide voluntary recall of its Ultegra and Dura-Ace road chainsets. 

Being described as an 'inspection and replacement program' by the Japanese brand, it applies to more than three quarters of a million cranksets in North America alone. 

The models affected are all 11-speed, and comprise the following series names:

• Ultegra FC-6800
• Ultegra FC-R8000
• Dura-Ace FC-9000
• Dura-Ace FC-R9100
• Dura-Ace FC-R9100P (power meter)

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the bonded construction of the recalled components can separate and break, posing a crash hazard to consumers. 

It reports that Shimano has received 4,519 incidents of cranksets failing, from which there have been six injuries including bone fractures, joint displacement and lacerations.

It is unconfirmed over what time period the incidents were recorded, and notably, these numbers relate to the CPSC's jurisdiction of North America alone. The global figures are currently unknown. 

The recall affects products manufactured prior to 2019. Each will have one of the following two-letter production codes on the rear of the crank arm. 

KF, KG, KH, KI, KJ, KK, KL, LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LI, LJ, LK, LL, MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MI, MJ, MK, ML, NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NI, NJ, NK, NL, OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OI, OJ, OK, OL, PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PI, PJ, PK, PL, QA, QB, QC, QD, QE, QF, QG, QH, QI, QJ, QK, QL, RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, and RF.

In the United States there are approximately 680,000 affected products, sold in the 11 year period between January 2012 and August 2023. A further 80,000 products were sold in Canada across the same period. 

Despite their similar appearance, Shimano's 105 chainsets are not affected by the recall, due to their cold-forged manufacturing process rather than the bonded construction found on Ultegra and Dura-Ace. Likewise, no 10-speed or 12-speed components are affected.

Shimano has also created a video to help users understand whether their product is affected: 

If you have an affected crank, you are advised to immediately stop using it and contact a Shimano dealer or an authorised inspection centre (essentially any store that is familiar with Shimano components and has passed Shimano's maintenance course). The dealer will then perform an inspection, and where signs of delamination or separation are found, a free replacement will be issued.

Replacements will comprise a hybrid component that mixes a 12-speed chainset fitted with 11-speed-compatible chainrings.

Although the recall currently only applies to North America, speaking to Cyclingnews, a Shimano spokesperson has confirmed that the safety inspection and replacement program will be echoed in markets worldwide. Therefore it is advised that affected users outside of North America also follow the advice, stop using the affected part, and wait for an announcement in your area. 

A worldwide helpline is also available which consumers can use to ask related questions. The phone number for this is (844) 776-0315 and it is available from 8 am to 5 pm PT Monday through Friday.

Further information and recall instructions can also be found on Shimano's website.

"Shimano will have applicable, pre-July 2019, cranks inspected by Shimano authorized retailers and Shimano will replace any cranks that fail the inspection process," the brand said in a statement. 

For those whose cranksets pass inspection, Shimano says "there is no need for further action."  

For those who require a replacement crankset, a 12-speed crank fitted with 11-speed chainrings will be supplied. Shimano adds that there will be "slight cosmetic differences from the original crankset."

For those with third-party power meters built into affected Shimano cranksets - ie those from Stages, Pioneer or 4iiii - Shimano says: 

"Shimano products that are modified by 3rd parties are not covered by warranty, but as an exception they will be subject to this inspection. Any items that are found to fail during inspection and that are sent back to Shimano will be replaced free of charge without the 3rd Party Power Meter attached. Shimano will be providing a rebate in the form of a check to the consumer where the consumer can use that towards the replacement of the 3rd party power meter."

It's unconfirmed at this stage what the value of rebate will be. 

It is also unclear how long affected users will have to wait for their replacement chainset. Shimano says "[we] will do our best to expedite the replacement crankset" but cannot guarantee it will have stock right away.