400 Bell Pit Boss motorcycle helmets recalled over impact protection

What was recalled

Bell Sports, Inc. is recalling 400 Bell Pit Boss motorcycle helmets in size medium. NHTSA logged the recall as campaign 26E061000 on Aug. 26, 2026. The "E" marks it as an equipment recall rather than a vehicle recall, so the usual VIN lookup does not apply.

Bell's Part 573 report identifies the product precisely: brand Bell, model Pit Boss, part number P423, size medium, manufactured between Jan. 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026. Bell says it cross-referenced production dates with purchase quantities to arrive at 400 units and estimates 100 percent of them are affected. Pit Boss helmets in other sizes, and medium helmets made outside that window, are not part of the record.

The record covers only this one product; it does not extend to Bell's other motorcycle or bicycle helmets, and it lists no Bell recall number of its own.

Why the helmets are being recalled

The helmets "may lack proper impact protection," in NHTSA's words, and therefore fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, "Motorcycle Helmets," the standard behind the DOT certification on U.S. helmets. Bell's report says the non-compliant result came from a retail audit: a helmet pulled from retail was tested and its impact attenuation, the helmet's ability to absorb the energy of a blow, did not meet the standard.

NHTSA's consequence statement: "A helmet that does not provide adequate impact protection increases the risk of injury in a crash." Bell's own risk description is blunter: the helmet "could fail to protect in the event of an accident," with a risk of injury or death. There is no warning sign; the report lists "none," meaning an affected helmet looks and feels normal.

Bell says newer production has since been re-certified by a qualified third-party lab and that it has put a new batch-testing program in place. The helmet's component manufacturer is listed as Dongguan Strategic Sports in China.

Where the helmets were sold

The NHTSA record does not name retailers, states or online sellers. Bell's report says it will contact all of its dealers and post a notice on its website explaining how to identify the recalled units, and that consumers can return a helmet to the store where it was bought.

When we checked bellhelmets.com/recalls.html on Sept. 1, 2026, the page listed several CPSC bicycle-helmet recalls (Scout Air, Adult Slope, Youth Soquel and others) but not yet the Pit Boss notice. Those are different products under a different agency. For the Pit Boss, rely on the NHTSA record and Bell's customer service line, 1-800-216-9446, until the website notice appears.

How to check whether your helmet is included

Helmets built to FMVSS 218 carry a permanent label with the manufacturer, model, size and month and year of manufacture, and Bell's report says production dates are listed on all of its products. Look inside the helmet for the sewn label and check three things: the model is Pit Boss, the size is medium, and the manufacture date falls between January 2025 and January 2026. Part number P423 is the number in Bell's filing.

The NHTSA VIN tool does not cover helmets, but the campaign itself is on file at nhtsa.gov/recalls under 26E061000. If your label is worn or you are unsure of the date, call Bell at 1-800-216-9446 rather than guessing.

Injuries reported

Bell's report does not describe any crashes, injuries or consumer complaints. The trigger was a failed test in a retail audit, not a field incident: Bell says it was informed of the non-compliant result on March 31, 2026, and responded to several requests for additional information through July 30, 2026 before agreeing to recall the units. The report does not state that no injuries occurred; it simply lists none.

That distinction matters with helmets. A helmet that fails an impact test may never show a problem until it is needed. If yours matches the record, Bell's instruction is to return or destroy it, which means taking it out of use rather than waiting for a symptom.

What helmet owners should do

NHTSA's record states the remedy as: "Bell will replace the helmet or reimburse owners, free of charge." Bell's report spells out the process: consumers are instructed to return the helmet to the store or destroy it. If you choose to destroy it, Bell needs photos; its preferred method is to cut the chin strap and photograph the severed strap together with the sewn label. Owners can then choose a new model or a 100 percent refund. Bell lists the reimbursement period as indefinite and says customer service will replace or reimburse any helmet that matches the recall.

Owner notification letters were expected to begin mailing Sept. 7, 2026, with dealer notification between Sept. 1 and Sept. 11, 2026. The address Bell lists for reimbursement claims is 1001 Innovation Road, Rantoul, IL 61866; the phone number is 1-800-216-9446.

1. Check the label inside the helmet for model Pit Boss, size medium and a manufacture date between January 2025 and January 2026.
2. Call Bell customer service at 1-800-216-9446 and reference NHTSA campaign 26E061000; Bell can confirm whether your helmet is included.
3. Return the helmet to the store where you bought it, or follow Bell's destruction instructions: cut the chin strap and photograph the cut strap with the sewn label.
4. Choose the replacement helmet or the 100 percent refund Bell offers; the filing says the reimbursement period is indefinite.
5. Keep your receipt, the photos and any letter from Bell until the replacement or refund arrives.

Who issued the recall and when

Bell Sports, Inc., of Scotts Valley, California, submitted its Part 573 safety recall report to NHTSA on Aug. 26, 2026. NHTSA's campaign number is 26E061000; the report lists no Bell recall number. The component category is equipment: motorcycle helmets, and the cited standard is FMVSS 218. The purchaser of the helmets named in the filing is Bell Sports LLC of Irvine, California.

Schedule: dealer notification Sept. 1–11, 2026; owner notification from Sept. 7, 2026, with the schedule running through Dec. 31, 2026 as a phased recall. Remedy type: reimburse or replace. Status: open. Vehicle recalls filed with NHTSA in the same period include the Ford Mustang wiring recall and the Lucid Air fire-risk recall; for a large consumer-product recall from the same period, see the Cuisinart grill brush recall.

How to monitor recalls and why to keep your receipts

Vehicle and equipment recalls are searchable at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and registering your vehicle with the manufacturer keeps recall letters coming to your current address. For other products, check the FDA recalls page, the CPSC recalls page, USDA FSIS for meat and poultry, FoodSafety.gov alerts, retailer notifications and the brand's own site.

Keep your purchase receipt, a photo of the helmet's label and any letter or email from Bell. If a company reimbursement or a future claim program becomes available, proof of purchase and repair records may be what you need to qualify; nothing is promised. Owed tracks open class action settlements (not recalls); see current settlements and our guide to money you may be owed.

Glossary

FMVSS 218

The federal motorcycle helmet standard behind the DOT sticker. It sets impact, penetration and retention tests plus labeling rules.

Impact attenuation

How much of a blow's energy the helmet absorbs before it reaches the head. This is the test the Pit Boss medium failed in Bell's audit.

Equipment recall (26E)

An NHTSA recall of motor vehicle equipment such as helmets, tires or child seats. It has no VIN, so identification relies on labels and part numbers.

Retail audit

A compliance check in which a product is bought or pulled from retail and tested. Bell says this is how the non-compliance was found.

Part 573 report

The defect or non-compliance report a manufacturer files with NHTSA; Bell's includes the part number, dates, remedy and schedule cited here.

Reimbursement period

The window in which a company will pay owners back. Bell lists it as indefinite for this recall.

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