Owners of affected Polaris snowmobiles should stop using them immediately and not try to repair them without help.
About 230,000 Polaris snowmobiles around the globe may present a serious safety risk, the company said Tuesday. Polaris issued a “stop ride/sale” order for three vehicle models this week after identifying 30 reports of fuel tank ruptures that caused 16 fires and one injury.
Select models of the company’s snowmobiles experience problems with degraded fuel after extended storage, Polaris said. That poses a risk of fire caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) inside the fuel tank.
“Under specific conditions, vapors may be ignited inside the fuel tank, posing a potential injury hazard to consumers,” Polaris said.
Affected vehicles include:
- MATRYX models from 2021 to 2023
- AXYS models from 2015 to 2022
- Trail Performance (Pro-Ride) from 2013 to 2014
It’s not the first safety notice from Polaris this year. The company recalled 13,000 snowmobiles in February for a “stuck throttle” defect.
Polaris ‘Stop Ride’ Details for Owners
Snowmobile owners should immediately stop using the impacted units, Polaris said.
The company is developing a “comprehensive action plan” to correct the issue at no cost to its customers. Also, Polaris plans to contact affected owners once it reaches a solution.
However, owners should not attempt any repairs, the company said.
“If a rider needs to start their snowmobile, they must make sure the fuel tank is full and, if it is not, then they need to add fresh gasoline to fill the tank,” Polaris said.
The company continues to notify dealers and registered owners, and it has reported the problem to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Need to find out if your snowmobile is affected? Visit Polaris’ Off-Road Safety Recalls page or call the company at 800-765-2747.
