Honda ATVs are being recalled for a faulty weld that poses a crash hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.
About 2,900 Honda All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are being recalled. The ATVs were manufactured in the United States; distributed by the American Honda Motor Company, of Torrance, California; and sold at Honda ATV dealers, nationwide, from September 2011 to January 2012. The recalled Honda ATVs sold for between $5,100 and $5,300.
A weld on the recalled Honda ATV’s front, right upper suspension arm can separate, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which poses a crash hazard. To date, Honda is aware of four incidents of suspension arm weld failures, including one in which a rider suffered a sprained wrist.
The recalled Honda ATVs are two-wheel drive 2012 Honda FourTrax Rancher ATV models TRX420TE and TRX420TM. The ATVs are red or green and bear the word “Honda” on both sides of the fuel tank and the word “Rancher” on the front cowl below the handlebars and on the left rear fender. Rancher models in the following VIN ranges are being recalled:
- • Model TRX420TE; VIN range 1HFTE344* C4500841 through C4502580
- • Model TRX420TM; VIN range 1HFTE340* C4500542 through C4501681
*Denotes a random alphanumeric identifier: “0-9” or “X.”
The model number is visible on the right front frame down pipe above the driver’s right-hand side front wheel. The VIN is located on the top center front of the frame and is visible when looking down between the bars of the gear rack and through the middle opening of the front fairing.
American Honda is contacting its customers directly and advises consumers to immediately stop using the recalled Honda ATVs and contact their Honda ATV dealer to schedule a free repair. American Honda can be reached between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time (PT), Monday through Friday, toll-free, at 1.866.784.1870, or at the American Honda’s website at http://powersports.honda.com.
