Transport Canada Warns Zero XB and XE Owners Not to Use Cruise Control
Transport Canada has updated recall 2026493 for certain 2026 Zero XB and XE electric off-road motorcycles after identifying a software problem that can cause an unintended increase in power and vehicle speed while cruise control is engaged.
The federal recall applies to both 2026 XB and 2026 XE restricted-use vehicles. Transport Canada says that under certain conditions the software fault can cause the motorcycle to accelerate unexpectedly while cruise control is active.
That creates a direct control risk. A sudden increase in speed can reduce stability or cause the rider to lose control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Until the repair is completed, Zero Motorcycles advises owners not to use cruise control and to keep their fingers covering the brake levers while riding. Those are interim precautions, not a substitute for the recall repair.
Zero will contact affected owners by email and direct them to a dealership for a cruise-control software update. Owners can also use Zero’s recall information resources and contact an authorized dealer if they are uncertain whether a motorcycle is affected.
The recall is particularly notable because the XB and XE are lightweight electric off-road models whose electronics control a large share of the riding experience. Both machines use selectable ride functions, and Zero lists cruise control among the available dash-controlled features.
For Canadian owners, the Transport Canada recall number is the most useful reference when speaking with a dealer. Model year alone does not establish whether a specific unit requires work, so the motorcycle’s identification information should be checked through the manufacturer or dealer system.
The repair is a software update rather than a conventional mechanical component replacement, but the safety consequence is physical. The problem concerns how commanded power can change while the motorcycle is moving.
That distinction matters for dealers as well. Service staff need to identify affected motorcycles accurately, explain the interim restriction clearly and complete the software update before representing the recall as closed for an individual unit.
Used-bike buyers should also treat open recalls as part of normal purchase due diligence. A seller saying that a motorcycle “runs fine” does not establish that a recall has been completed.
Transport Canada lists the recall under powertrain safety and identifies loss of stability or control as the principal risk. The agency’s October 19 update makes the owner action straightforward: leave cruise control off until the dealer software repair has been completed.
The XB and XE remain usable under the interim instructions, but owners should follow the recall guidance exactly and have the affected software updated through the authorized repair process.
