Polaris Industries is issuing a defective product recall for about 4,700 2009-model all terrain vehicles because the valve assembly can fail in freezing temperatures causing oil to leak into the exhaust system and pose a fire and burn hazard to the rider. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, Polaris has received six reports of the valve assembly failing in freezing temperatures resulting in three fires. So far, no injuries have been reported.

This product recall involves the Polaris ATVs with model year 2009 that were sold under the market names ESP XP850 and Sportsman XP 850. Polaris dealers nationwide sold the ATVs from September 2008 through June 2009 for about $9,000. Consumers who own one of these defective ATVs must stop using the vehicles in sub-freezing temperatures and call their Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair. If you are a registered owner, you should receive a direct mail notification about this recall.

Hundreds of young people, especially children 16 years or younger are catastrophically injured or killed in ATV accidents each year. A number of these accidents are caused by defective ATVs. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics, in 2006, there were 750 deaths and 146,600 injuries involving ATV crashes in the United States.

This is not Polaris’ first product recall for defects. According to various reports, between the years 2000 and 2008, Polaris has issued 16 recalls for many of its ATV models for various product defects ranging from engine overheating to loss of steering control. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an ATV accident involving a Polaris ATV, please consult with an experienced California auto product liability attorney to find out more information about your legal rights and options. If you believe defective design or a defective product caused your ATV accident, you would be well-advised to preserve the vehicle in its current crashed condition, unaltered, so it can be examined by an expert for product defects, malfunction and other evidence. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free initial consultation to accident victims and/or their families.

If you would like more information about this Polaris product recall, please call the company at 1-888-704-5290.