Polaris all-terrain vehicles

3 reports to CPSC, the latest made Mar 19, 2013. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

3reports to CPSC
Mar 19, 2013the latest report was made
Aug 4, 2011the earliest
3with the company’s comments

Brand: Polaris
Maker: Polaris Industries Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: All-terrain vehiclesMore than 4 wheels, off-road onlyCPSC’s product type: All Terr. Veh. (More Than 4 Wheels; Exclusively Off-rd. (code 3296), in Sports and Recreation: Recreational Vehicles (Unlicensed)

By month

1 report from April 2012 to March 2013; the most in March 2013, 1. 2 earlier reports, since August 2011, are in the table.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
March 2013	1
November 2011	1
August 2011	1

How badly anyone was hurt

No one hurt 3 CPSC: Incident, No Injury

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

No one hurt
Made Mar 19, 2013, sent to the company Mar 27, 2013, published by CPSC Apr 10, 2013

The product, in the report: Polaris ATV -1996 Magnum 6 x 6 W968744 with a dump bed. I personally used the ATV around the house and on the farm.

I was driving a 1996 Polaris Magnum 6 x 6 ATV making a turn when the throttle cable would not go back into normal operation in throttle mode after pressing the throttle half way open. Basically I released the gas in a turn and the unit did not release back to throttle mode. With both hands locked on the brakes the unit was still moving quickly. I was within 10 feet of going over a 15 - 20 foot embankment into a rocky area at the lake. I reached over, took a chance and turned the key off. The unit stopped. I purchased the unit new in 1997; it has 775 miles on it. I filed a complaint with Polaris in 1998 about a carburetor issue that it would not idle properly; the problem was not corrected. It is interesting after reviewing your site Polaris did a recall in August 2000 about the sticking throttle cable issues on other units. It would be interesting to see if these units they recalled had the same “Polaris Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)” systems as my 1996 unit.
My paths crossed with a Polaris employee, as I described what happened to me,the person was not surprised and stated that early year machines were basically a piece of “Junk” until later years in 2000.
I was fortunate my teenage son was not on the unit because he would not have known to turn the key off.

Model
#1341183/ATV -1996 Magnum 6 x 6 W968744
Serial number
96-19043
Bought from
Farm Supply
Bought
Jun 1, 1997, about then
Where
Pell City, Alabama: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Polaris, made or sold by Polaris Industries Inc.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(4/11/2013) Polaris Industries Inc.: The consumer’s statement regarding a “recall in 2000” regarding a throttle issue appears to be a reference to Safety Bulletin ATV-00-01, which was released on June 14, 2000. The 1996 Magnum 6x6 owned by the consumer was produced with a throttle control system of an entirely different manufacturer and construction than was at issue in that bulletin, which has no relevance to the consumer’s machine.
Polaris has no records or knowledge indicating that the 1996 Magnum 6x6 throttle assembly has had any issues that would affect consumer safety. The consumer’s machine does have the Electric Throttle Control (ETC) safety feature which is designed to reduce the risk of a frozen or sticking throttle. The ETC, or any other component, cannot eliminate all conditions that might result in a sticking throttle.
The consumer’s machine is a 1996 machine which makes it 17-years old. Seventeen-year old off-road recreational vehicles can require a constant amount of maintenance and subsequent repairs which, if not performed, can cause any number of problems. Polaris suggests that the consumer take his machine to an authorized Polaris dealer and have his machine inspected and repaired as necessary.

CPSC report 20130319-29EB7-1314130. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Nov 4, 2011, sent to the company Dec 16, 2011, published by CPSC Jan 3, 2012

The product, in the report: Sportsman 500 EFI 2008 Polaris ATV

The consumer says he drove the ATV from the barn area up to his house, which is about 400 feet distance. He turned it off and went into the house. He got in the shower, when his brother told him that the ATV was on fire. He says the unit was on fire ten feet from his house. He said only 10 minutes had passed from him turning it off and the fire occurring. The flames where ten feet high. The consumer says the fire melted some of his windows. he says there was no indication that something was wrong with it. He went online and noticed reports of similar incidences with this brand. The consumer says he is experiencing the same issues as stated in Alert #08-580. The consumer’s model is not included in the recall.

Model
Sportsman 500 EFI 2008
Bought from
Hopf Outdoor Equipment
Bought
Sep 2, 2011
Where
Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Male
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand Polaris, made or sold by Polaris Industries Inc.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(12/28/2011) Polaris Industries Inc.: The consumer states that he believes that the issue is similar to Alert # 08-580. This alert relates to model year 2004 machines that utilized a potted controller. The machine in question is an EFI machine which utilizes an un-potted controller housed in an aluminum structure which is similar to the recall repair that is referenced. However, the un-potted construction does not allow any electrical malfunction that might occur to cause damage to surrounding areas.
While Polaris cannot at this time comment on the incident that is described, we can state that the issue is not related to the alert that is mentioned.
On 11-4-2011 Polaris received a contact from [REDACTED] and at that time he was asked to present his machine to his dealer of choice. On 11-7-2011 Polaris received contact from [REDACTED] dealer concerning this issue. Polaris has begun our process to investigate this incident and will communicate the findings with the consumer at the completion of the process. Polaris has also asked the consumer to provide additional information concerning this incident that would help us evaluate this incident. As of 12-23-2011 Polaris has not received that requested information.

CPSC report 20111104-3C720-1213266. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
No one hurt
Made Aug 4, 2011, published by CPSC Aug 26, 2011

The product, in the report: 2011 Polaris Sportsman 850xp EPS, Browning Edition

I have a 2011 Polaris Sportsman 850xp ATV. It is 4 months old with 20 hours of riding time. I have found that with normal riding, oil will be pushed out of the engine into the air box. If not cleaned up it will fill the air box and could end up on the hot engine causing a fire.

Model
Sportsman 850xp
Bought from
Los Lunas Motorsports, New Mexico
Bought
Apr 15, 2011
Where
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Unspecified
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Polaris, made or sold by Polaris Industries Inc.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Incident, No Injury

The company’s comments, in its own words

(8/24/2011) Polaris Industries Inc.: Polaris has learned the consumer recently brought their 2011 model year Sportsman 850 XP to an authorized Polaris dealership for review and/or diagnosis on 08/09/2011. The dealer noted that a non-Polaris approved air filter had been installed in the air box. It was also observed that a small amount of oil from the engine had entered the air box which resulted in a thin film of oil on the bottom internal surface of the air box. The dealer stated there was very little evidence of oil having leaked onto or down the surfaces of the engine, with only a light dust/film residue found on the valve cover area. Polaris does not believe the reported issue constitutes a safety hazard or defect because the surface temperatures of the engine are maintained at a relatively low temperature by liquid cooling (well below the auto ignition temperature of oil). As is normal with motorized vehicle designs, engine crankcase pressures are directed to an air box using a breather line, where it is common for a small amount of oil mist from the engine, to enter the air box area during normal vehicle operation. Although the amount emitted from the engine is usually very small, in some instances, an increased amount of oil may be found inside the air box that is primarily the result of the following: 1) use of non-Polaris approved oils, 2) improper maintenance that results in oil contamination or dilution, 3) bowed breather/labyrinth plate installation, or 4) improper engine “break-in”. As part of the overall vehicle inspection and service, the dealer will inspect the engine oil for any signs of oil dilution or contamination, and will also examine the engine to confirm the breather/labyrinth plate is not bowed and is functioning properly.

CPSC report 20110804-78361-2147476540. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Polaris all-terrain vehicles

At a glance

By month

How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources

How to read a record

Every fact names its source.

A number never stands alone.

What needs attention is marked.

The public record comes first.