The Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 spans 2018–2026 with 6 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2020, 2026, 2025 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2018, 2019, 2021. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2018 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 VIN — every digit explained
Every Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Husqvarna and the country it was built in (real Husqvarna codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Svartpilen 701.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- ItalyZKH
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Svartpilen 701, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 have?
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 has 6 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2018–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2020 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 recalls 3
Structure:motorcycle:fairing/cowling/windscreen:mounting Fasteners/hardware
What's wrong. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Husqvarna Motorcycle 701 Vitpilen and 2019-2020 701 Svartpilen motorcycles. The gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm may be positioned incorrectly, possibly resulting in a loose rear axle nut, causing the license plate holder to contact the rear wheel.
Risk. License plate bracket interference with the rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and realign the gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm, and inspect the tightness of the rear wheel axle collar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is HTB2106.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen and 2018-2020 Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen motorcycles. Fuel may leak from the fuel level sensor and fuel pump mounting area.
Risk. A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source, and increase the risk of damage or injury.
Fix. KTM will notify owners, and Husqvarna Motorcycle Dealers will replace the affected fuel tank, install new gaskets, and update software for proper fuel calibration, free of charge. Owners will be notified to take their motorcycles to a Husqvarna Motorcycle North America, Inc. (HMNA) dealership for repairs. The recall began July 7, 2020. Owners may contact HMNA customer service at 1-888-985-6090. HMNA's number for this recall is HTB2012.
Power Train:clutch Assembly:slave Cylinder
What's wrong. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 690 Enduro R, Vitpilen 701, 701 Enduro, 701 Supermoto, 2019-2020 690 SMC R, Svartpilen, 2018-2019 690 Duke, and 2020 701 Enduro LR motorcycles. The bellow-style gasket on the clutch slave cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which could cause the clutch to become inoperable and not disengage when the clutch lever is pulled in.
Risk. An inoperable clutch increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the clutch slave cylinder and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 3, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's numbers for this recall are KTB2112 and HTB2110.
2019 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 recalls 3
Structure:motorcycle:fairing/cowling/windscreen:mounting Fasteners/hardware
What's wrong. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Husqvarna Motorcycle 701 Vitpilen and 2019-2020 701 Svartpilen motorcycles. The gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm may be positioned incorrectly, possibly resulting in a loose rear axle nut, causing the license plate holder to contact the rear wheel.
Risk. License plate bracket interference with the rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and realign the gear teeth on the license plate holder and swingarm, and inspect the tightness of the rear wheel axle collar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is HTB2106.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Husqvarna 701 Svartpilen and 2018-2020 Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen motorcycles. Fuel may leak from the fuel level sensor and fuel pump mounting area.
Risk. A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source, and increase the risk of damage or injury.
Fix. KTM will notify owners, and Husqvarna Motorcycle Dealers will replace the affected fuel tank, install new gaskets, and update software for proper fuel calibration, free of charge. Owners will be notified to take their motorcycles to a Husqvarna Motorcycle North America, Inc. (HMNA) dealership for repairs. The recall began July 7, 2020. Owners may contact HMNA customer service at 1-888-985-6090. HMNA's number for this recall is HTB2012.
Power Train:clutch Assembly:slave Cylinder
What's wrong. KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 690 Enduro R, Vitpilen 701, 701 Enduro, 701 Supermoto, 2019-2020 690 SMC R, Svartpilen, 2018-2019 690 Duke, and 2020 701 Enduro LR motorcycles. The bellow-style gasket on the clutch slave cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which could cause the clutch to become inoperable and not disengage when the clutch lever is pulled in.
Risk. An inoperable clutch increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the clutch slave cylinder and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 3, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's numbers for this recall are KTB2112 and HTB2110.
Best and worst years for the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 9 tracked years, the worst years are 2020, 2026, 2025 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2018, 2019, 2021.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Svartpilen 701 | — | Best | |
| 2019 Svartpilen 701 | — | Best | |
| 2020 Svartpilen 701 | Power Train | Avoid | |
| 2021 Svartpilen 701 | — | Best | |
| 2022 Svartpilen 701 | — | Average | |
| 2023 Svartpilen 701 | — | Average | |
| 2024 Svartpilen 701 | — | Average | |
| 2025 Svartpilen 701 | — | Avoid | |
| 2026 Svartpilen 701 | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 problems?
The most-reported Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 problems are Power Train (2 reports) — out of 2 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Power Train 2 Read
Husqvarna has a widely known issue (to them and owners) for false neutrals in the gear box on the 701 and 401 Svartpilens and Vitpilens. In the 1500 miles I have owned this motorcycle, I have had 8-10 false neutral cirumstances while in operation, cornering. This has mostly taken place when upshifting from 4th to 5th or 5th to 6th gears. Very dangerous. I have advised KTM and given them a spreadsheet of 19 other people (owners) willing to speak wit them as the parent organization for Husky. I have received no information that this is being seriously evaluated as a dangerous engineering issue to be remedied.
KTM, as the parent company of Husqvarna, has continued to put models on the road with problematic clutch slaves from Magura as the OEM clutch slave. This part is known to be a significant engineering problem and result in loss of clutch functionality on these motorcycles while in operation. That is what happened to me Friday, July 16th in Redmond, Oregon in traffic. Fortunately, I was able to get the vehicle, very luckily, out of traffic after the power train completely failed with a failed clutch slave at that time. There is apparently a revised OEM clutch slave that is in place but they have issued no voluntary recall for prior models affected by this and it cuts across a number of their platforms using a Magura vs. Brembo clutch slave on the 690/701 engine used in the Svartpilen and Vitpilen models as well as several others. I find it very troubling that KTM/Husqvarna would continue to allow bikes to be built and delivered that fail in their operation on the road and where that failure is likely. Mine happened with a mere 1500 miles on the new motorcycle.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Svartpilen 701 holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 get?
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What engines does the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 cost to own?
A Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Svartpilen 701 is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Svartpilen 701 loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Svartpilen 701 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Svartpilen 701 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 last?
A well-maintained Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Husqvarna Svartpilen 701’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Svartpilen 701’s VIN free →All Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
| 2021 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 Svartpilen 701 | 3 recalls | — | — |
| 2019 Svartpilen 701 | 3 recalls | — | — |
| 2018 Svartpilen 701 | 0 | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Svartpilen 701?
By owner-complaint volume, 2020, 2026, 2025 drew the most reports. 2018, 2019, 2021 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Svartpilen 701 have?
6 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2018–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a Svartpilen 701 last?
A well-maintained Svartpilen 701 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Svartpilen 701 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Svartpilen 701 is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 warranty?
New Husqvarna models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Husqvarna dealer.
Where is the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Svartpilen 701's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Husqvarna may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Svartpilen 701 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.