IllustrationTHE ORIENTATION OF THE HORN BUTTON AND TURN SIGNAL IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER MOTORCYCLE AND IS DANGEROUS TO THE OPERATOR WHEN TRYING TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL OR THE HORN.....WHEN NEGOTIATING A CORNER.....
2017 Honda CMX500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CMX500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsTHE HORN BUTTON IS IN A NON-STANDARD PLACE. EVERY BIKE I'VE RIDDEN FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS THE HORN BUTTON IS BOTTOM LEFT CONTROL, WHILE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS ABOVE IT (MIDDLE POSITION). EVEN IN TRAINING CLASSES (MSF FOR SURE) THEY TEACH YOU WHERE EACH CONTROL IS LOCATED, AND THEY ARE STANDARDS FOR ALL BIKES SO YOU CAN ALWAYS …
Read full complaint
THE HORN BUTTON IS IN A NON-STANDARD PLACE. EVERY BIKE I'VE RIDDEN FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS THE HORN BUTTON IS BOTTOM LEFT CONTROL, WHILE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS ABOVE IT (MIDDLE POSITION). EVEN IN TRAINING CLASSES (MSF FOR SURE) THEY TEACH YOU WHERE EACH CONTROL IS LOCATED, AND THEY ARE STANDARDS FOR ALL BIKES SO YOU CAN ALWAYS KNOW WHERE TO REACH THEM WITHOUT LOOKING, AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD. ON MY '17 HONDA REBEL, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO SWITCH CONTROL POSITIONS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I FEEL THIS REPRESENTS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AS I'VE ALREADY ENCOUNTERED SITUATIONS WHERE I NEEDED TO WARN OFF A VEHICLE FROM ENCROACHING IN MY LANE, AND MY THUMB IMMEDIATELY REACHES FOR THE LOWER BUTTON BUT INSTEAD OF THE HORN SOUND, I'M JUST HITTING THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSTEAD. I REACHED OUT TO HONDA SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. ON THE ASSOCIATED HONDA REBEL FORUM MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS AS WELL, AND I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE EVEN TRADED THEIR BIKES IN BECAUSE OF THIS SIMPLE ISSUE. TO ME THIS WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF MOVING THE HORN IN AN AUTOMOBILE FROM THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO SOME SMALL SWITCH NEAR THE RADIO. NOBODY COULD REACH THAT IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONCERN OF MINE ALL SUMMER THE MORE FREQUENTLY I RIDE MY BIKE. I'VE THOUGHT OF REPLACING THE SWITCH WITH AN OLDER MODEL IN THE CORRECT POSITION BUT WANT TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY AGENCIES AS POSSIBLE FIRST AS I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR HONDA TO ADDRESS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAULT? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
Official recalls
126V500000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar; Steering:critical Fasteners
Jul 30, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2023, 2025 CMX500, 2017-2023, 2025-2026 CMX300, and 2025 Honda SCL500 motorcycles. The handlebar lock screw may loosen and detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached screw may lodge between the frame and stem, interfering with steering and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock screw and apply thread lock, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed September 21, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in Winter 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KUO. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V146. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 4, 2026.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2023, 2025 CMX500, 2017-2023, 2025-2026 CMX300, and 2025 Honda SCL500 motorcycles. The handlebar lock screw may loosen and detach.
Consequence: A detached screw may lodge between the frame and stem, interfering with steering and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock screw and apply thread lock, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed September 21, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in Winter 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KUO. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V146. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 4, 2026.
Steering:critical Fasteners
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2023, 2025 CMX500, 2017-2023, 2025-2026 CMX300, and 2025 Honda SCL500 motorcycles. The handlebar lock screw may loosen and detach.
Consequence: A detached screw may lodge between the frame and stem, interfering with steering and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock screw and apply thread lock, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed September 21, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in Winter 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KUO. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V146. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 4, 2026.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.