Recalls are not any fun. When they are announced, consumers have to deal with the hassle of scheduling the repair. On the flip side, manufacturer reputations take a hit because of a problem with their product that can or has caused safety issues for the consumers. Polaris, the manufacturer of ATVs and UTVs, is one of those manufacturers in the unfortunate situation of having to announce a recall. Specifically, Polaris announced recalls for some of their Ranger and General UTVs, as well as some of their Phoenix ATV models. Thankfully, Polaris has not had any injuries associated with the cause of the recalls. But, if you own one of these ATV or UTVs, the following information may prove beneficial to you. 

The Polaris Ranger XP 1000, General XP 1000, General 1000

The Polaris Ranger and General recreation and utility side-by-side off-road vehicles are popular lines for the manufacturer. They are available in several trims, and can easily be accessorized with winches, light bar, and other things that might be needed out on the trails. They are available in two and four-seat configurations. 

The first recall is for the Ranger XP 1000 from 2019 to 2020. The second recall is for the General XP 1000, and the General 1000 for the 2020 model year. A total of 32,241 vehicles are affected worldwide by both recalls. According to the Polaris website,

“the throttle can fail to return to the idle position after the engine stalls and is restarted in gear without switching the key to the off position due to a software problem, causing the vehicle to accelerate suddenly, posing a crash hazard.”

The Phoenix ATV recall

The third recall is for the Polaris Phoenix 200 all-terrain vehicles. Model years affected are from 2018 through 2020. A total of 2,800 units are included in the recall. According to the Polaris website,

“Polaris has determined the throttle lever stop on all 2018, 2019, and some 2020 Phoenix 200 models can fail due to damage during shipping, posing a crash hazard.”

What owners should do

As part of taking precautions regarding the affected vehicles, Polaris does advise consumers to stop using the affected UTVs and ATVs. The company advises consumers to contact their dealer and schedule an inspection and repair. Polaris will also reach out to affected owners by mail or email. The company has also provided at VIN search on its website for consumers to search and see if their vehicle is part of the recall efforts. 

Don’t compromise safety by putting it off

These recalls are voluntary and done in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. All three product lines involved in the recalls had concerns with the throttle. Needless to say, if owners find themselves with one or more of these vehicles, they should be careful and follow the guidance not to drive them. Contacting the dealer right away would be prudent. The last thing anybody wants is to be taken for a wild and dangerous ride as a result of a throttle not working correctly.