Yamaha Motor Corporation has recalled over 120,000 of its Rhino utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that the Rhino was unsafe and contains design defects.

Rhino recall details

The recall includes the Yamaha Rhino 450, 660 and 700 models. According to the CPSC, www.cpsc.gov/, the recall has been issued so that dealers can install a spacer on the rear wheels and remove the rear anti-sway bar to help reduce the risk of rollover. In addition, Yamaha will also install half doors and additional passenger handholds on Rhinos in situations where owners did not know about, or avail themselves to, an offer Yamaha previously extended to Rhinos that were sold from 2003 to August of 2007. Owners may contact the company at (800) 962-7926 with further questions or visit the company’s website at www.yamaha-motor.com.

Product liability lawyers pleased

Product liability lawyers handling the 200 - 300 lawsuits against Yamaha alleging that the Rhino is unreasonably dangerous, defectively designed and was rushed to market without appropriate or adequate testing are extremely pleased about the recall news. However, many are wondering why it took so long.

Introduced in 2003, they say that the Rhino has caused too many injuries and deaths due to its narrow wheel base, high center of gravity, lack of safety features and lack of proper testing. The latter of which is the most disturbing because even though these vehicles aren’t covered by any federal statute that requires testing, Yamaha should have thoroughly tested the vehicle before releasing it into the marketplace.

Had Yamaha done so, lawyers and consumer advocate groups say that it would have discovered these defects and possibly could have saved many lives that were lost when the vehicle rolled over – which happened frequently. In fact, the CPSC reported that nearly two-thirds of the cases it reviewed involved a rollover at speeds as low as 13 miles per hour – and without safety features, occupants have a greater likelihood of being pinned under the vehicle.

Unfortunately, children are often the victims in rollover accidents involving the Rhino and many of the lawsuits against Yamaha are wrongful death actions brought by the parents of children who died while riding in a Rhino.