On July 30, 2014, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, of Irvine, Calif., recalls Teryx4 Recreational Off-highway Vehicles due to injury hazard. The vehicle’s floorboards can allow a stick or other debris to break through and protrude into the foot rest area, posing an injury hazard to the operator and front passenger. Kawasaki has received four reports of debris breaking through the floorboards of the vehicles, including two injuries to riders’ toes and thighs.
These vehicles were sold at Kawasaki dealers nationwide from October 2011 through July 2014 for about $13,400. An estimated 11,000 were sold nationwide.
The recalled vehicles are 2012 and 2013 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4 recreational off-highway vehicles. The four-wheel-drive vehicles have automobile-style controls, side-by-side seating for four people, four doors, a roll bar with hand holds, and a cargo bed. The 2012 and 2013 models come in three different styles:
- non-EPS,
- EPS, and
- EPS LE.
The LE style has a roof and aluminum wheels. The 2012 models were sold in the colors blue, camouflage, green, red, and yellow. The 2013 models were sold in the colors black, camouflage, green, red, white, and yellow. The model name “Teryx4” is on the driver’s side of the hood. For all colors of the EPS model except camouflage, “EPS” appears on the driver and passenger side cowling near the top front corner of the doors.
On the EPS LE, “EPS” appears on the driver and passenger side cowling near the top front corner of the doors, and “LE” appears on the hood on the driver’s side. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact an authorized Kawasaki dealer to schedule a free repair, consisting of the installation of floor board guards. For more information please contact Kawasaki toll-free at (866) 802-9381 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.kawasaki.com and click on Recall/Safety Info at the bottom of the page.
As a consumer, safety advocate, and trial lawyer, I am continually troubled by the fact that manufacturers and retailers continue to sell dangerous products. Manufacturers, in their zeal to get products on the market, often cut corners and overlook safety when designing and manufacturing products. Manufacturers have an obligation and opportunity to thoroughly assess product safety before the launch of a product. It should not take a person to get injured for a manufacturer to make a product safe.
The Quinn Law Group, LLC, is a preeminent personal injury law firm with offices conveniently located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous product or through the fault of another, please contact Sean E. Quinn for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are Your Voice. Your Advocate. Dial (215) 360-3666 now for help.
