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The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Kawasaki have announced a joint recall of 155,000 Prairie and Brute Force All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).

Acccording to the government agency, “A significant impact to the front wheel of the ATV while the steering is fully turned to either side can result in suspension damage, wear, and an eventual loss of steering control that could result in injury or death.”

The recall includes 2001 through 2005 Prairie and Brute Force Kawasaki ATVs. The following Kawasaki ATV models are included in this recall: Prairie 300, Prairie 300 4×4, Prairie 360, Prairie 360 4×4, Prairie 400, Prairie 400 4×4, Prairie 650 4×4, Prairie 700 4×4, and Brute Force 650 4×4. The model numbers can be found on the identification label located on the frame of the ATV. “Prairie” or “Brute Force” is printed on each side of the vehicle’s gas tank.

Consumers should stop using the recalled ATVs immediately and contact an authorized Kawasaki ATV dealer to arrange for a free repair. Registered owners of the vehicles will be notified directly by Kawasaki about the recall. Consumers can also call toll-free at (866) 802-9381 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Posted under Recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating all-terrain vehicles and their “safety standards”, paying close attention to children who use the vehicles.

Chairman Hal Stratton directed the agency June 8 to conduct a top-to-bottom review of “all existing ATV safety standards and make recommendations regarding the advisability and potential for issuing” rulemaking. Chairman Stratton emphasized that particular consideration should be given to improving ATV safety of young riders.

He also called for an exhaustive summary of ATV safety-related proposals, including pre-sale training/ certification requirements, enhanced warning labels, formal notification of safety rules by dealers to buyers, the addition of a youth ATV model appropriate for 14-year olds, written notification of child injury data at the time of sale and separate standards for tandem (two up) vehicles.

Posted under Safety

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced with Honda that 200,000 units of the Honda 2004-2005 FourTrax All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) have been recalled.

The vehicle’s steering rods can separate, causing the driver to lose steering control. This could cause the ATV to crash and pose a risk of serious injury or death. The CPSC says that Honda has reported more than two dozen instances of the problem, but no one has been injured to date.

The recalled vehicles are red, olive, yellow or blue and have “Honda” written on the fuel tank. Consumers who suspect their vehicle might have been recalled can call Honda toll-free at (866) 784-1870 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Posted under Recalls