Last week Shimano issued a recall of some 11-speed Hollowtech Road Cranksets in the USA and Canada, following instances of a ‘bonding separation issue’ on certain models. In the UK and Europe, there is not as yet a recall, however inspection instructions have been issued to Shimano dealers. Shimano will replace any cranksets that fail the inspection process free of charge. Will we see a further roll out of the recall in more territories?

The inspection notice begins:

Shimano starts inspection and replacement program

Shimano Europe B.V. (“Shimano”), starts an inspection and replacement program of selected bonded 11-speed HOLLOWTECH II road cranksets produced between June 1, 2012, up to and including June 30, 2019, for a possible bonding separation issue.

This specifically concerns the Shimano ULTEGRA FC-6800, DURA-ACE FC-9000, ULTEGRA FC-R8000, DURA-ACE FC-R9100 and FC-R9100-P 11-Speed Bonded HOLLOWTECH II Road Cranksets in Europe. Reports received by Shimano indicate that the bonded parts of the crank arm could separate and break, posing potential fall and injury hazards to consumers.

To remedy this situation, Shimano will have any applicable crankset inspected. Shimano will replace any crank arm that fails the inspection process.

This inspection is designed to determine whether the crank arms show a possible bonding separation issue and to swiftly remove any possible safety hazard to our consumers. Not all ULTEGRA and DURA-ACE cranksets need to be inspected.  Only cranksets produced between June 1, 2012, up to and including June 30, 2019, need to be inspected. 

The affected products are DURA-ACE and ULTEGRA branded cranksets with the following model numbers: ULTEGRA FC-6800, FC-R8000 and DURA-ACE FC-9000, FC-R9100 and FC-R9100-P. The model numbers are stamped on the inside of the crank arm near the bottom of the arm. Full details on how to determine if your cranks are affected and what to do can be found here.

While you’re here…