On October 29, 2013, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with American Honda Motor Company of Torrance, California, announced the voluntary recall of eight models of its line of four-wheel-drive, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) due to a risk of serious injury or death to riders. The ATVs’ steering shaft can unexpectedly break during operation, causing the rider to lose control while riding and crash resulting in serious injury or death to the rider. Honda has received at least 18 reports of the ATV’s steering shaft breaking, two of which resulted in riders crashing and being seriously injured.
The recall involves eight models of the four-wheel-drive 2012 and 2013 Honda FourTrax TRX500 Foreman ATV models FE and FM. The affected model numbers are [Model, Vin Range]:
- 2012 TRX500FE, 1HFTE387*C4000006 thru 1HFTE387*C4005765;
- 2012 TRX500FE Camo, 1HFTE385*C4000002 thru 1HFTE385*C4001201;
- 2012TRX500FM, 1HFTE380*C4000004 thru 1HFTE380*C4007923;
- 2012 TRX500FM Camo, 1HFTE381*C4000003 thru 1HFTE381*C4000902;
- 2013 TRX500FE, 1HFTE387*D4100001 thru 1HFTE387*D4101860;
- 2013 TRX500FE Camo, 1HFTE385*D4100001 thru 1HFTE385*D4100600;
- 2013 TRX500FM, 1HFTE380*D4100001 thru 1HFTE380*D4102400; and
- 2013 TRX500FM Camo, 1HFTE381*D4100001 thru 1HFTE381*D4100480.
The Model number can be found on the left front frame down pipe above the driver’s left-hand side front wheel.
The ATVs were sold at Honda ATV dealers nationwide from May 2011 through September 2013 for between $6,900 and $7,900. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ATVs and contact a Honda ATV dealer to schedule a free repair. American Honda is also contacting customers directly.
Consumers can contact American Honda at (866) 784-1870 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.powersports.honda.com by clicking on Support for product recall information.
As a parent, 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 consumer getting exposed to serious injury or death in an ATV crash 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. We are Your Voice. Your Advocate. Give us a call today. (215) 360-3666.