After years of controversy, injuries and deaths, the Yamaha Motor Corporation has suspended sales of certain Rhino all-terrain or utility-terrain vehicles. The company is also offering owners free repairs to correct the vehicle’s design flaws.

CPSC investigation reveals defective Rhino design

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Yamaha has suspended sales of its Rhino all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or utility-terrain vehicle (UTV) as it’s often referred to, after a CPSC investigation found that the Rhino was unreasonably dangerous. The CPSC has reported that out of 50 incidents involving 46 driver and passenger deaths, “more than two-thirds of the cases involved rollovers and many involved unbelted occupants. Of the rollover-related deaths and hundreds of reported injuries, some of which were serious, many appear to involve turns at relatively low speeds and on level terrain.” The CPSC is advising Yamaha owners of Rhino models 450, 660 and 700 to stop using these vehicles until repairs can be made.

Yamaha offering free repairs

Approximately 120,000 Yamaha Rhinos which have been sold since 2003 are affected by the announcement and qualify for free repairs, and a free helmet, from the company. According to the CPSC’s press release, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09172.html:

Yamaha’s repair includes the installation of a spacer on the rear wheels as well as the removal of the rear anti-sway bar to help reduce the chance of rollover and improve vehicle handling, and continued installation of half doors and additional passenger handholds where these features have not been previously installed to help keep occupants’ arms and legs inside the vehicle during a rollover and reduce injuries.

Lawsuits continue, despite suspension

Hundreds of lawsuits filed against Yamaha continue, despite news of the sales suspension. According to product liability attorneys, most of these lawsuits allege that Yamaha released the defectively designed Rhino into the marketplace without performing adequate testing – which makes the vehicle unreasonably dangerous.

The vehicle’s wheel base is narrow and high which increases the chances of rollover – even at very low speeds. Lack of safety features have always been an issue with the vehicle and most injuries or deaths have been caused by occupants becoming pinned underneath the vehicle when it rolls over.