Polaris ATVs

Thinking of buying an ATV? Be sure to check all the safety recalls first.

Al of lufkin, TX November 18, 2009

I purchased a new atv off show room floor on April 6, 2009 for my 50 yr old girlfriend as a birthday gift. She has a broken back which keeps her into the small atv's due to health limits. She choose a 2009 pink polaris outlaw 90cc as her birthday present. It is all automatice as her old atv but has reverse which her old one did not. I bought on the spot. The min age for this atv was 12 yrs and max weight 180lbs as per stickers on the atv itself. she is 5'4", 120 lbs. a size 3. Her prior atv is a 2000 Suzuki LT80 which is still in showroom condition. It is a bit smaller in physical size and 10cc smaller in engine size. She has never had it in the shop or had to replace brakes since it was new.

The first time she rode her new Polaris it had no front brakes within the first hour of riding. my friend adjusted them until we could get it back to the shop where we bought it. we took it in the next day. they had it for a week or so. when we picked it up and tried to ride again, it again had no front brakes after a minimal amount of usage. We were on a 3 day camping event with friends at an atv park. With only rear brakes working, she had to resort to running into a small tree on one occassion when the rear brakes failed due to overheating when going downhill.

On another occassion that same weekend, she rolled backwards into a larger atv because of lack of brakes. We took it back and they rudely told her that it was her weight that was making the brakes not work. they repeatedly said that she was fat and too big for this machine. again, she is 5'4, 120 lbs. smaller than most 12 or older boys who they target sales of this atv. Their video of this atv shows jumping, riding over rocks, water and all kinds of things that she can't do because of her health.

The mechanics at Lufkin finally told us not to ever wash the front wheels, tires or brakes. Getting the brakes wet apparently makes them useless according to the salesperson and mechanics. we called polaris repeatedly and they won't get involved, don't care. The sales video for this machine shows them riding in water past the brake location on the wheels. Nothing in the book says not to get wet; to the contrary, it specifically says to ride in water up to the foot wells on the atv which are several inches higher than the brake level. She tries to avoid mud or water at all costs.

The last time (4th) we picked it up from Lufkin powersports the owner tried to get my girlfriend to sign a document that said all was well when she picked it up, however they rolled it onto the trailer, without starting it. She refused to sign anything since she had not ridden it. It was filthy and the rear wheels had been turned so that the valve stems were inside toward the axles.

The huge mechanic told her that he was the only one who could try to ride it, he admitted he was over 300lbs himself. We tried to tell them that we thought it was a simple brake cable or something that was not allowing the brakes to operate. They insisted that I was using the brake pads too much or riding thru water or that my weight must be the reason for failure. When we got it home, we had to jack it up and change the wheels and clean off all the mud and dirt from the machine.

When she tried to ride it the next day (after picking it up from the shop), it was making a terrible noise from the engine or transmission so she immediately put it back on the trailer and we took it to Center powersports, Center, Texas the next day. (We had also taken it there once prior for the brake issue) It sat there for over 2 weeks with only a minor teardown being accomplished. We were told that their mechanic had quit, but he determined that the transmission was messed up.

Desperate for help I called Nacogdoches Powersports, Nacogdoches, Texas and was told by Bethany that they would work on the atv, to bring it to them. We took it from Center to Nacogdoches on September 9, 2009. It is still sitting in the same shape at Nacogdoches powersports today, no work has been done on the unit. They keep telling us next week, next week. They are now telling us they don't have the tools to fix it. We are furious.

Cant get anyone at Polaris to listen and cant get it fixed and put together. We recently discovered that all three locations are owned by the same man, chances are that is why this is all happening. I would never recommend anyone to purchase a polaris or to use LUFKIN POWERSPORTS, NACOGDOCHES POWERSPORTS OR CENTER POWERSPORTS. The payments go on, the warranty is out and she has ridden it about 3 times. WHAT A RIP OFF! I can't imagine letting a child ride this machine it is a death trap.

This was a birthday gift. It has been a total disaster for my girlfriend. She has been hurt by this atv. I have to make the monthly payments, drive all over east texas trying to get someone to work on it and checking up on it. Since April, 2009 she has ridded about 3 times. It has been in the shop for about 7 months of the 8 that we have owned it.

She has been hurt on it due to lack of brakes, the time and fuel spent running it all over east Texas to the shop, not having something for her to ride and the payments still ongoing. It has been a nightmare and she has been insulted and humiliated repeatedly by these men. She is no means overweight, contrary too light according to her doctor.

Glenn of Grand Marsh, WI September 7, 2009

Why can't you get a winch for the 2008 sportsman 300 other than that stupid little 500lb plow lift. Who designed this mess? Metric one section, standard the next, allen wrench's, then sockets!! Come on polaris get it together!

Jo of Summersville, KY April 18, 2009

Jo of Summersville KY (04/18/09)
i purchased a polaris phoenix 200 atv in sept. of 2008 within 3 weeks it was making a clicking sound i returned it and they said it was fixed once it was home we realized that the mechanics had not even put some of the parts back together correctly. Less than a month later it was making the same noise and leaking oil everywhere. we filled it half full with oil the day before we returned it again the next morning it was empty .jerry dobson said it was the same problem as the first time the pistons had to be replaced.

dobsons kept it for almost a month and told me it was fixed this time. after we got home with it there was oil in the bed of the truck that had come from the atv. it has been ridden twice since the first time being easter sunday that afternoon it was almost empty of oil, we put more in it and 5 days later when we moved it there was oil on the ground underneath it. the warranty is now out and i am stuck paying for a $3000.00 atv that we are afraid to ride. the oil has covered the engine once again.

Kenneth of Carrabelle, FL March 31, 2009

Kenneth of Carrabelle FL (03/31/09)
In February of 2009 I purchased a new, 2008, Polaris Sportsman 800, ATV at Bellamy's in Crawfordville, FL. I soon noticed that the heat coming from the right side of the machine, in the area where you place your foot was unbearable. Even with your foot as far outboard as possible, and still within the safety area that protects your leg and foot from striking foreign objects, the heat was actually almost blistering the skin, in the calf area in particular. This is with high socks, boots and heavy jeans in 60-70 degree weather. I have since learned from other riders that this is and has been an ongoing issue with the twin cylinder Polaris ATV's, in particular the 800.

I returned the machine to Bellamy's a week ago for them to address this issue and they stated this was a design defect with the machine and that it needed to be addressed by Polaris. I have since sent several email's to Polaris with no response other then a canned one stating to address issue with dealer which I already have done. Any help with getting Polaris's attention regarding this safety issue would be appreciated.

Skin Burns to right leg/foot.

Steve of Eau Claire, WI March 3, 2009

Steve of Eau Claire WI (03/03/09)
On 9/19/08 I purchased a new 500 Sportman ATV Along with the purchase I had a plow and winch purchased at the same time. In November I had taken the machine for the recomended service they had installed the winch and plow. On February 27,2009 The winch failed. I took the machine to the dealer from whom I had made the purchase. I was told that Polaris would replace the winch but not the labor to remove it and replae it even though the winch is covered under warranty.

I contacted the Polaris consumer center. After explaining the problem I also sent an E-Mail to the comsumer site listed on the Polaris web site. I think if the dealer sells a product with the Polaris name on it and warranty it it shall also cover any labor cost to remove it and replace it.

Safety Risks

Also, you might want to consider these consumer comments:

Al of lufkin, TX November 18, 2009

I purchased a new atv off show room floor on April 6, 2009 for my 50 yr old girlfriend as a birthday gift. She has a broken back which keeps her into the small atv's due to health limits. She choose a 2009 pink polaris outlaw 90cc as her birthday present. It is all automatice as her old atv but has reverse which her old one did not. I bought on the spot. The min age for this atv was 12 yrs and max weight 180lbs as per stickers on the atv itself. she is 5'4", 120 lbs. a size 3. Her prior atv is a 2000 Suzuki LT80 which is still in showroom condition. It is a bit smaller in physical size and 10cc smaller in engine size. She has never had it in the shop or had to replace brakes since it was new.

The first time she rode her new Polaris it had no front brakes within the first hour of riding. my friend adjusted them until we could get it back to the shop where we bought it. we took it in the next day. they had it for a week or so. when we picked it up and tried to ride again, it again had no front brakes after a minimal amount of usage. We were on a 3 day camping event with friends at an atv park. With only rear brakes working, she had to resort to running into a small tree on one occassion when the rear brakes failed due to overheating when going downhill.

On another occassion that same weekend, she rolled backwards into a larger atv because of lack of brakes. We took it back and they rudely told her that it was her weight that was making the brakes not work. they repeatedly said that she was fat and too big for this machine. again, she is 5'4, 120 lbs. smaller than most 12 or older boys who they target sales of this atv. Their video of this atv shows jumping, riding over rocks, water and all kinds of things that she can't do because of her health.

The mechanics at Lufkin finally told us not to ever wash the front wheels, tires or brakes. Getting the brakes wet apparently makes them useless according to the salesperson and mechanics. we called polaris repeatedly and they won't get involved, don't care. The sales video for this machine shows them riding in water past the brake location on the wheels. Nothing in the book says not to get wet; to the contrary, it specifically says to ride in water up to the foot wells on the atv which are several inches higher than the brake level. She tries to avoid mud or water at all costs.

The last time (4th) we picked it up from Lufkin powersports the owner tried to get my girlfriend to sign a document that said all was well when she picked it up, however they rolled it onto the trailer, without starting it. She refused to sign anything since she had not ridden it. It was filthy and the rear wheels had been turned so that the valve stems were inside toward the axles.

The huge mechanic told her that he was the only one who could try to ride it, he admitted he was over 300lbs himself. We tried to tell them that we thought it was a simple brake cable or something that was not allowing the brakes to operate. They insisted that I was using the brake pads too much or riding thru water or that my weight must be the reason for failure. When we got it home, we had to jack it up and change the wheels and clean off all the mud and dirt from the machine.

When she tried to ride it the next day (after picking it up from the shop), it was making a terrible noise from the engine or transmission so she immediately put it back on the trailer and we took it to Center powersports, Center, Texas the next day. (We had also taken it there once prior for the brake issue) It sat there for over 2 weeks with only a minor teardown being accomplished. We were told that their mechanic had quit, but he determined that the transmission was messed up.

Desperate for help I called Nacogdoches Powersports, Nacogdoches, Texas and was told by Bethany that they would work on the atv, to bring it to them. We took it from Center to Nacogdoches on September 9, 2009. It is still sitting in the same shape at Nacogdoches powersports today, no work has been done on the unit. They keep telling us next week, next week. They are now telling us they don't have the tools to fix it. We are furious.

Cant get anyone at Polaris to listen and cant get it fixed and put together. We recently discovered that all three locations are owned by the same man, chances are that is why this is all happening. I would never recommend anyone to purchase a polaris or to use LUFKIN POWERSPORTS, NACOGDOCHES POWERSPORTS OR CENTER POWERSPORTS. The payments go on, the warranty is out and she has ridden it about 3 times. WHAT A RIP OFF! I can't imagine letting a child ride this machine it is a death trap.

This was a birthday gift. It has been a total disaster for my girlfriend. She has been hurt by this atv. I have to make the monthly payments, drive all over east texas trying to get someone to work on it and checking up on it. Since April, 2009 she has ridded about 3 times. It has been in the shop for about 7 months of the 8 that we have owned it.

She has been hurt on it due to lack of brakes, the time and fuel spent running it all over east Texas to the shop, not having something for her to ride and the payments still ongoing. It has been a nightmare and she has been insulted and humiliated repeatedly by these men. She is no means overweight, contrary too light according to her doctor.

Glenn of Grand Marsh, WI September 7, 2009

Why can't you get a winch for the 2008 sportsman 300 other than that stupid little 500lb plow lift. Who designed this mess? Metric one section, standard the next, allen wrench's, then sockets!! Come on polaris get it together!

Jo of Summersville, KY April 18, 2009

Jo of Summersville KY (04/18/09)
i purchased a polaris phoenix 200 atv in sept. of 2008 within 3 weeks it was making a clicking sound i returned it and they said it was fixed once it was home we realized that the mechanics had not even put some of the parts back together correctly. Less than a month later it was making the same noise and leaking oil everywhere. we filled it half full with oil the day before we returned it again the next morning it was empty .jerry dobson said it was the same problem as the first time the pistons had to be replaced.

dobsons kept it for almost a month and told me it was fixed this time. after we got home with it there was oil in the bed of the truck that had come from the atv. it has been ridden twice since the first time being easter sunday that afternoon it was almost empty of oil, we put more in it and 5 days later when we moved it there was oil on the ground underneath it. the warranty is now out and i am stuck paying for a 3000.00 atv that we are afraid to ride. the oil has covered the engine once again.

Kenneth of Carrabelle, FL March 31, 2009

Kenneth of Carrabelle FL (03/31/09)
In February of 2009 I purchased a new, 2008, Polaris Sportsman 800, ATV at Bellamy's in Crawfordville, FL. I soon noticed that the heat coming from the right side of the machine, in the area where you place your foot was unbearable. Even with your foot as far outboard as possible, and still within the safety area that protects your leg and foot from striking foreign objects, the heat was actually almost blistering the skin, in the calf area in particular. This is with high socks, boots and heavy jeans in 60-70 degree weather. I have since learned from other riders that this is and has been an ongoing issue with the twin cylinder Polaris ATV's, in particular the 800.

I returned the machine to Bellamy's a week ago for them to address this issue and they stated this was a design defect with the machine and that it needed to be addressed by Polaris. I have since sent several email's to Polaris with no response other then a canned one stating to address issue with dealer which I already have done. Any help with getting Polaris's attention regarding this safety issue would be appreciated.

Skin Burns to right leg/foot.

Steve of Eau Claire, WI March 3, 2009

Steve of Eau Claire WI (03/03/09)
On 9/19/08 I purchased a new 500 Sportman ATV Along with the purchase I had a plow and winch purchased at the same time. In November I had taken the machine for the recomended service they had installed the winch and plow. On February 27,2009 The winch failed. I took the machine to the dealer from whom I had made the purchase. I was told that Polaris would replace the winch but not the labor to remove it and replae it even though the winch is covered under warranty.

I contacted the Polaris consumer center. After explaining the problem I also sent an E-Mail to the comsumer site listed on the Polaris web site. I think if the dealer sells a product with the Polaris name on it and warranty it it shall also cover any labor cost to remove it and replace it.

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