Polaris "Sportsman 700 EFI" ATVs
CPSC Recall #04-585 — September 26, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-585 |
| Recall Date | September 26, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 12,170 |
| Manufacturer | Polaris Industries, Inc., of Medina, Minn. |
| Importer | Polaris Industries, Inc., of Medina, Minn. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Polaris dealers sold these ATVs nationwide from March 2003 to August 2004 for between $7 |
| 899 and $8 |
| 899. |
Product
Polaris "Sportsman 700 EFI" ATVs
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Polaris Industries, Inc., of Medina, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 12,170 Polaris "Sportsman 700 EFI" ATVs. The throttle cable may bind when the handlebars are turned full left or full right, resulting in an increase in engine speed and unintended vehicle acceleration. In addition, the fuel line may rub against the vehicle chassis, resulting in a fuel line leak which could be a fire hazard.Name of Product: Polaris "Sportsman 700 EFI" ATVsUnits: About 12,170Manufacturer/Importer: Polaris Industries, Inc., of Medina, Minn.Hazard: The throttle cable may bind when the handlebars are turned full left or full right, resulting in an increase in engine speed and unintended vehicle acceleration. In addition, the fuel line may rub against the vehicle chassis, resulting in a fuel line leak which could be a fire hazard.Incidents/Injuries: There have been 19 incidents (including two minor injuries such as scrapes, bruises, and minor injuries to the leg, knee, and shoulder) involving the throttle cable binding which may cause the ATV to accelerate. There have been 31 incidents (but no injuries or fires) involving gasoline leaking from the fuel line rubbing against the chassis.Description: All model year 2004 "Sportsman 700 EFI" ATVs with model numbers A04CH68CU, A04CH68AU, A04CH68AP, and A04CH68AQ are part of this recall. The model number is on the rear upper frame tube located directly under the right side of the seat. The ATVs have black seats with a grey, red, and black chassis. "700 Sportsman" is prominently displayed on the right and left side of the chassis, body and fuel tank, and "EFI" is displayed on the instrument/headlight pod.Sold at: Polaris dealers sold these ATVs nationwide from March 2003 to August 2004 for between $7,899 and $8,899.Manufactured In: U.S.A.Remedy: Free repair. Contact your Polaris dealer to schedule an appointment to inspect, reroute, and replace the throttle cable and the fuel line as necessary. Polaris has notified consumers directly about this recall.Consumer Contact: Call Polaris at (800) 765-2747 between 8 a.m. and 12 midnight ET every day.
Hazard
The throttle cable may bind when the handlebars are turned full left or full right, resulting in an increase in engine speed and unintended vehicle acceleration. In addition, the fuel line may rub against the vehicle chassis, resulting in a fuel line leak which could be a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been 19 incidents (including two minor injuries such as scrapes, bruises, and minor injuries to the leg, knee, and shoulder) involving the throttle cable binding which may cause the ATV to accelerate. There have been 31 incidents (but no injuries or fires) involving gasoline leaking from the fuel line rubbing against the chassis.
Remedy Instructions
Free repair. Contact your Polaris dealer to schedule an appointment to inspect, reroute, and replace the throttle cable and the fuel line as necessary. Polaris has notified consumers directly about this recall.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Inspect, Repair) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.