By Nuttall Brown & Coutts
What happened in the CPSC ATV recall?
In March 2017, CPSC announced recall 17-112 for about 19,200 all-terrain vehicles because a side panel heat shield can melt, posing burn and fire hazards. CPSC listed 47 fires and four minor burn injuries among the reports. A recall does not show what caused any one fire.
| Recall | What CPSC said (quoted) |
|---|---|
| CPSC recall 17-112 March 21, 2017 Read the CPSC notice (opens in new tab) | Vehicles: “all model year 2015 and 2016 Polaris Sportsman 850 and 1000 model all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)” · “About 19,200” Hazard: “The right side panel heat shield can melt, posing burn and fire hazards to riders. …” Reports: “Polaris has received at least 793 incidents, including reports of warped, melted or burned side panels, 47 fires and four minor burn injuries.” |
A recall does not mean any one vehicle caused a fire. Some recalled vehicles may already have been repaired. Each CPSC notice describes the remedy and how to check a vehicle.
Side-by-side vehicles are covered on our side-by-side page.
What counts as an ATV?
Federal law describes an ATV as “any motorized, off-highway vehicle designed to travel on 3 or 4 wheels, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control” (CPSC ATV FAQ (opens in new tab)). If the vehicle has a steering wheel and bucket or bench seats, it is usually a side-by-side instead.
The difference matters when you look for recalls. CPSC lists ATV recalls and side-by-side (ROV or utility vehicle) recalls separately, and a notice may cover only certain model years. Make sure you are reading the notice for your exact vehicle type, model and year.
Which part was involved in the CPSC ATV recall?
CPSC recall 17-112 describes the problem as “The right side panel heat shield can melt, posing burn and fire hazards to riders.” The covered vehicles were “all model year 2015 and 2016 Polaris Sportsman 850 and 1000 model all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)” (CPSC 17-112 (opens in new tab)).
On an ATV, the rider sits directly over the engine and exhaust, with legs close to the side panels. That is one reason a heat shield problem can lead to burns even when no large fire starts. The CPSC notice lists warped, melted or burned side panels among the reports, not only fires.
Who regulates ATV safety?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) covers off-road vehicles such as ATVs and ROVs. Cars, trucks and on-road motorcycles fall under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) instead (CPSC jurisdiction page (opens in new tab)). That is why ATV recalls are posted on cpsc.gov, not on NHTSA's site.
CPSC says ATVs must meet mandatory requirements, including the ANSI/SVIA safety standard and an approved ATV action plan (CPSC ATV FAQ (opens in new tab)). Meeting a standard does not by itself answer whether a particular vehicle or part was safe.
What should I save after an ATV fire?
Keep the ATV and every burned or melted part, including side panels and heat shields, even if they look ruined. Photograph the vehicle from all sides before anyone moves it. Save the purchase papers, service records and any recall letter. These items may show which parts were original, repaired or replaced.
- Note any aftermarket parts, such as exhausts, skid plates or panels, and who installed them.
- Write down how long the ATV had been running and what the terrain was like.
- Keep riding gear and clothing that was damaged.
- Ask anyone who saw the fire for their name and phone number.
For the full checklist, see what to do after an off-road fire.
Questions after an off-road fire?
Burned in an ATV or side-by-side fire, or caring for someone who was? Tell us what happened and we will review it for free. You decide what happens next.