YAMAHA MOTOR CORP. U.S.A., OF CYPRESS, CALIF., IS ANNOUNCING A FREE REPAIR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES WITH ALL RHINO 450, 660, AND 700 MODEL OFF-HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. YAMAHA HAS ALSO AGREED TO VOLUNTARILY SUSPEND SALE OF THESE MODELS IMMEDIATELY UNTIL REPAIRED. CONSUMERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THESE POPULAR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES UNTIL THE REPAIR IS INSTALLED BY A DEALER.
CPSC STAFF HAS INVESTIGATED MORE THAN 50 INCIDENTS INVOLVING 46 DRIVER AND PASSENGER DEATHS IN THESE TWO RHINO MODELS. 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.
ABOUT 120,000 OF THE 450 AND 660 MODEL RHINOS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED NATIONWIDE SINCE FALL 2003. SOME UNITS HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED BY YAMAHA WITH HALF DOORS AND ADDITIONAL PASSENGER HANDHOLDS, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER SALE.
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. OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED RHINOS SHOULD STOP USING THEM AND CALL THEIR DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE ONCE THEY ARE AVAILABLE AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A FREE HELMET OFFER.
YAMAHA IS ALSO VOLUNTARILY IMPLEMENTING THE SAME REPAIR PROGRAM AND SUSPENSION OF SALE FOR THE RHINO 700 MODEL, IN ORDER TO ENSURE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. CONSUMERS SHOULD STOP RIDING THE 700 MODEL UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. ABOUT 25,000 RHINO 700S ARE PART OF THIS REPAIR PROGRAM.
ONCE THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THEIR VEHICLES, RHINO USERS SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR THEIR HELMET AND SEATBELT AND FOLLOW THE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THE ON-PRODUCT LABELS, OWNER’S MANUALS AND OTHER SAFETY MATERIALS. THE RHINO IS ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR OPERATORS 16 AND OLDER WITH A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. ALL PASSENGERS MUST BE TALL ENOUGH TO PLACE BOTH FEET ON THE FLOORBOARD WITH THEIR BACK AGAINST THE SEAT BACK.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YAMAHA AT 800-962-7926 ANYTIME, OR VISIT THE FIRM’S WEB SITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM
 RHINO 450 (WITH DOORS) |
 RHINO 450 (WITHOUT DOORS) |
RHINO 660 (WITHOUT DOORS)
Can I get my Rhino recall work done in Canada as I live in Canada and purchased my machine in the U.S.A. ? I have already had the doors put on shortly after I purchased it in the U.S..
What size are the Spacers?
I have an 08 rhino 700 and i have never had a problem with it. even before the recall. i feel like the rhinos are safe , i think its how people ride them and the crazy things they try to do with them is what gets people hurt. we have had are rhino out in the woods and never once has it tried to flip or roll over.