On October 23, 2014, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Arctic Cat Inc., of Thief River Falls, Minn, announced the recall of Single-Rider and 2UP ATVs due to crash hazards. Components in the front gear case can fail, posing a risk of loss of control and crash hazard. Arctic Cat has received 44 reports of components in the front gear case failing, including 10 reports of the vehicle stopping abruptly or the operator losing of control of the ATV.
Arctic Cat has received four reports of injury, including one incident involving a consumer sustaining broken ribs and injuries to a knee and a back. About 40,000 have been sold nationwide at Arctic Cat dealers from May 2007 to October 2014 for between $5,500 and $12,000.
This recall involves the model years 2008 and 2009 Arctic Cat single-rider and 2 UP style ATVs. Single-rider ATVs have one seat and one set of footrests for the operator. 2 UP ATVs have an elongated seat designed to hold one passenger behind the operator, a set of hand-holds mounted to the rear frame for the passenger, and two sets of footrests. The recalled ATVs came in a variety of colors and have the name Arctic Cat on each side of the fuel tank and the front above the grill opening.
All model year 2008 Arctic Cat ATVs with 400 cubic centimeter (cc) and larger engines are being recalled.
The model year 2009 Arctic Cat ATVs with 400 cubic centimeter (cc) and larger engines and with production numbers within the following ranges are being recalled:
- 200001 through 203861,
- 808001 through 808137,
- and X25082 through X30243.
The engine size is printed on the back of the instrument cluster between the handlebars.
The vehicle identification number (VIN) in the format 4UF09******XXXXXX is on the frame tube near the driver’s side rear wheel and contains the model year and production number of the vehicle.
The model year is the fourth and fifth character of the VIN in the YY format. The production number is the last six characters of the VIN.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ATVs and contact an Arctic Cat dealer to schedule a free repair. Contact Arctic Cat at (800) 279-6851 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.arcticcat.com and click on Customer Care, then Product Recall and then List of Safety Bulletins for more information.
As a consumer, safety advocate, and trial lawyer, I am continually troubled by the fact that manufacturers and retailers continue to sell dangerous products. Manufacturers, in their zeal to get products on the market, often cut corners and overlook safety when designing and manufacturing products. Manufacturers have an obligation and opportunity to thoroughly assess product safety before the launch of a product. It should not take a person to get injured for a manufacturer to make a product safe.
The Quinn Law Group, LLC, is a preeminent personal injury law firm with offices conveniently located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous product or through the fault of another, please contact Sean E. Quinn for a free, no-obligation consultation now at (215) 360-3666. We are Your Voice. Your Advocate.