Recall affects SRAM Red, Force, Rival and Apex shifters

By Stan Portus

Published: Tuesday, 31 October 2023 at 11:03 AM


SRAM is set to issue a recall of “indicated” aftermarket 12-speed SRAM eTap AXS Red, Force, Rival and Apex shifters produced prior to 1 July 2023.

The recall has been issued due to excessive threadlocker being applied to the shifter clamp bolt, according to SRAM.

This may result in the shifter moving on the handlebar despite reaching the recommended bolt torque.

The recall warns that “if it moves during riding, it can cause a crash due to a loss of control”.

The notice shared with SRAM retailers says only “unsold aftermarket shifters” are impacted.

Further information regarding aftermarket products already sold “will come prior to the recall announcement”, according to the notice.

Shifters on complete bikes “assembled or checked prior to delivery or installed by the retailer” are not affected by the recall.

The notice says products with a production code of “WK 26 2023 or earlier should be quarantined for rework prior to sale”.

There is currently no indication of the scale of the recall and how many units are affected.

What should you do if you suspect a lever is affected?

SRAM Red hydraulic disc brake lever on Specialized S-Works Venge SRAM eTAP road bike
There are three steps tp deal with affected levers.
Tom Wragg

SRAM outlines three steps to deal with affected shifters and bike brake levers.

It says retailers should “conduct a stock sweep and quarantine all involved products for rework prior to sale”.

A replacement kit is available free of charge to rework any involved stock products via the SRAM Retailer Support Portal.

The kit, named “11.7018.089.000 SHIFTER CLAMP BOLT KIT 11MM QTY2”, contains two bolts and rework indication stickers. A single kit will rework two levers.

Once a retailer confirms any involved products, they should:

  1. Enter the appropriate DS ED platform and product serial number as indicated on the package with symptom Z-Recall. Mass uploads of serial numbers are? possible; for further instructions please contact SRAM STS.
  2. Replace the existing shift-brake lever clamp bolt with a bolt from the kit, the fixing nut does not require replacement. To replace the bolt use the following steps:
    1. Roll the hood cover back and loosen the lever clamp nut with a 5mm hex until it unthreads from the clamp bolt.
    2. Install the replacement bolt and tighten two turns to ensure the bolt does not fall off in packaging.
    3. The original bolt should be scrapped.
  3. When repacking the lever(s), place the supplied green sticker next to the barcode package label. This is required to indicate the lever has been reworked.

Affected products

SRAM has provided a list of 46 involved parts numbers covering all aftermarket 12-speed SRAM eTap AXS Red, Force, Rival and Apex brake levers produced prior to 1 July 2023.

The lever production date is located on the package barcode label.

Products with a date of “WK 26 2023” or earlier should be quarantined for rework prior to sale.

The list of involved parts numbers is as follows:

  • 00.7018.392.012 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC RR/L F20 1800 2P
  • 00.7018.392.013 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC RR/R F20 1800 2P
  • 00.7018.392.014 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC FT/L F20 950 2P
  • 00.7018.392.015 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC FT/R F20 950 2P
  • 00.7018.392.016 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC RR/LFT DIR 1800 2P
  • 00.7018.392.017 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC RR/RT DIR 1800 2P
  • 00.7018.392.018 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC FRT/LFT DIR 950 2P
  • 00.7018.392.019 AM ED RED AXS D1 SJC FRT/RT DIR 950 2P
  • 00.7018.393.000 AM ED FORCE AXS D1 SJC RR/LEFT F20 1800
  • 00.7018.393.001 AM ED FORCE AXS D1 SJC RR/RIGHT F20 1800
  • 00.7018.393.002 AM ED FORCE AXS D1 SJC FRT/LEFT F20 950
  • 00.7018.393.003 AM ED FORCE AXS D1 SJC FRT/RIGHT F20 950
  • 00.7018.443.002 AM ED RIV ETAP AXS D1 SJC RR/L F20 1800
  • 00.7018.443.003 AM ED RIV ETAP AXS D1 SJC RR/R F20 1800
  • 00.7018.443.004 AM ED RIV ETAP AXS D1 SJC FRT/L F20 950
  • 00.7018.443.005 AM ED RIV ETAP AXS D1 SJC FRT/R F20 950
  • 00.7918.077.003 AM FORCE AXS 1X GROUPSET HRD FM 6B 2P
  • 00.7918.077.004 AM FORCE AXS 2X GROUPSET HRD FM 6B 2P
  • 00.7918.077.005 AM FORCE AXS 1X GROUPSET HRD FM CL 2P
  • 00.7918.077.006 AM FORCE AXS 2X GROUPSET HRD FM CL 2P
  • 00.7918.078.007 AM RED AXS 1X GROUPSET HRD FM 6B 2P
  • 00.7918.078.008 AM RED AXS 2X GROUPSET HRD FM 6B 2P
  • 00.7918.078.009 AM RED AXS 1X GROUPSET HRD FM CL 2P
  • 00.7918.078.010 AM RED AXS 2X GROUPSET HRD FM CL 2P
  • 00.7918.078.013 AM RED AXS 2X GROUPSET HRD PM 2P 6B
  • 00.7918.078.014 AM RED AXS 1X GROUPSET HRD PM 2P 6B
  • 00.7918.213.000 AM ED FORCE AXS D2 SJC REAR/LFT F20 2000
  • 00.7918.213.001 AM ED FORCE AXS D2 SJC REAR/RT F20 2000
  • 00.7918.213.002 AM ED FORCE AXS D2 SJC FRT/LFT F20 1300
  • 00.7918.213.003 AM ED FORCE AXS D2 SJC FRT/RT F20 1300
  • 00.7918.261.000 AM ED APEX AXS D1 SJC REAR/LFT F20 2000
  • 00.7918.261.001 AM ED APEX AXS D1 SJC REAR/RT F20 2000
  • 00.7918.261.002 AM ED APEX AXS D1 SJC FRT/LFT F20 1300
  • 00.7918.261.003 AM ED APEX AXS D1 SJC FRT/RT F20 1300
  • 11.7018.078.000 ED EXCHANGE KIT RED ETAP AXS LEFT
  • 11.7018.078.001 ED EXCHANGE KIT RED ETAP AXS RIGHT
  • 11.7018.078.002 ED EXCHANGE KIT FORCE D1 ETAP AXS LEFT
  • 11.7018.078.003 ED EXCHANGE KIT FORCE D1 ETAP AXS RIGHT
  • 11.7018.078.004 ED EXCHANGE KIT RIVAL ETAP AXS LEFT
  • 11.7018.078.005 ED EXCHANGE KIT RIVAL ETAP AXS RIGHT
  • 11.7018.078.008 ED EXCHANGE KIT FORCE D2 ETAP AXS LEFT
  • 11.7018.078.009 ED EXCHANGE KIT FORCE D2 ETAP AXS RIGHT
  • 11.7018.078.010 ED EXCHANGE KIT APEX AXS LEFT
  • 11.7018.078.011 ED EXCHANGE KIT APEX AXS RIGHT
  • 11.7018.079.000 SHIFTER CLAMP KIT ELECTRONIC SHIFTER DISC
  • BRAKE (ED) RED FORCE ETAP AXS PAIR
  • 11.7018.079.001 SHIFTER CLAMP KIT ELECTRONIC SHIFTER DISC
  • BRAKE (ED) RIVAL ETAP / FORCE D2 AXS PAIR

News of the SRAM recall has come soon after Shimano recalled 2.8 million cranksets globally.