Yamaha Grizzly ATV Recall Issued Due to Risk of Steering Control Problems

Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have issued an ATV recall for Yamaha Grissly 550 and 700 vehicles from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 model years. A defect in the steering column support assembly could cause riders to lose control and suffer injuries in a Yamaha ATV accident.

The Yamaha Grizzly ATV recall was issued on Friday, impacting about 20,000 of the four-wheel all terrain vehicles sold throughout the United States between October 2007 and March 2010. Consumers have been urged to immediately stop using the recalled Yamaha Grizzly vehicles and contact their local dealer to schedule a free repair.

At least 19 reports of problems with the Yamaha Grizzly have been received by the manufacturer. According to the recall notice, the steering column support assembly can crack on the Grizzly ATV, potentially causing the rider to lose steering control. Although no injuries have been linked to the problems, this could pose a risk of serious personal injury or death for riders.

The Yamaha Grizzly recall applies to the following model numbers, which were sold for between $7,000 and $9,500:

• 2008 Yamaha Grizzly 700 – Model Number YFM700FGHX
• 2008 Yamaha Grizzly 700 – Model Number YFM700FGX
• 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 – Model Number YFM550FGHY
• 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 – Model Number YFM550FGY
• 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 700 – Model Number YFM700FGHY
• 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 700 – Model Number YFM700FGY
• 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 550 – Model Number YFM550FGHZ
• 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 550 – Model Number YFM550FGZ
• 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 700 – Model Number YFM700FGHZ
• 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 700 – Model Number YFM700FGZ

Registered owners of the recalled Yamaha Grizzly ATVs have been notified by direct mail. Additional information can be obtained from Yamaha at (800) 962-7926 or by visiting www.yamaha-motor.com.

As a result of other, unrelated, safety problems with their Rhino ATVs, Yamaha currently faces hundreds of rollover accident lawsuits. The Yamaha Rhino is also a four-by-four ATV, but it contains two side-by-side bucket seats, a steering wheel and a flat bed in back. Design problems with the Yamaha Rhino have been blamed for making the ATV prone to rollover, even when it is operated safely at reasonable speeds on flat surfaces. In the Yamaha Rhino lawsuits, users claim to have suffered severe and life-threatening injuries when their arms and legs were crushed under the weight of the ATV during a rollover accident.