46 deaths in U.S. Yamaha Rhino ATV crashes, CPSC says

Yamaha suspends sales, safety repairs offered

Last Updated: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | 12:57 PM ET

Yamaha Motor U.S. is offering a repair program for about 145,000 Rhino 450, 660, 700 model ATVs after 46 drivers and passengers died in crashes, many as a result of rollovers. The picture shows the 660 model. (U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission)

Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S. announced Tuesday it is offering free repairs on about 145,000 Rhino two-seat utility vehicles in three versions, following an investigation of more than 50 incidents involving 46 driver and passenger deaths by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Yamaha Motor Canada is checking to see if any models of the Rhino utility vehices (UTVs) deemed dangerous in the United States were sold in Canada, Tim Chelli, national manager of regulatory affairs, said Wednesday.

"We have Rhino models in Canada," Chelli said, and the company is checking to see if they are the same off-highway vehicles. That could take 48 hours, he said.

Yamaha Canada wasn't aware of the U.S. problems until the CPSC issued the news release, he said.

The CPSC said consumers should stop driving the vehicles until the repair is done. Yamaha U.S. has agreed to stop selling the three models until they're fixed.

The repair installs of a spacer on the rear wheels and removes the rear anti-sway bar to help reduce the chance of a rollover, and installs half-doors and more passenger handholds to help keep users’ arms and legs inside the vehicle in a rollover.

More than two-thirds of the 50-plus incidents investigated by CPSC staff were 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," the agency said.

A least one Canadian, a 13-year-old boy, has died in a Rhino accident, Toronto law firm Rochon Genova said Wednesday in announcing a class action suit against Yamaha. The websites of a number of U.S. law firms said they are suing the company over Rhino accidents.

About 120,000 of the 450 and 660 models were sold in the U.S. since the fall of 2003. Yamaha has already added half doors and additional passenger handholds to some vehicles.

Yamaha has also stopped selling the Rhino 700 and is offering the same repairs for about 25,000 units of that model.

Owners should call their dealer to arrange the repairs, the CPSC said.

For safer operation, the commission said:

• Drivers should always wear a helmet and seatbelt.
• Drivers should be 16 or older and have a driver’s licence.
• Passengers must be tall enough to place both feet on the floor with their back against the seat.

Consumers can call Yamaha at 800-962-7926 for more information.