John Deere XUV835 Gator UTV Recall

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Marc Cesare

These variants of the John Deere XUV835 Gator utility vehicle are part of the recall.

John Deere XUV835 Recall Summary

John Deere is recalling nearly 20,000 XUV835 Gator utility vehicles because the plastic sheathing on the throttle cable can melt and cause the throttle to stick. The underlying issue is improperly routed throttle cables. The recall covers models sold from November 2017 through July, 2019. Consumers should immediately stop using the vehicles and contact their local John Deere dealer for a free inspection and repair. The following recall details are from the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Recall Details

Name of product: John Deere XUV835 Gator utility vehicles

Hazard: The plastic sheathing on the throttle cable can melt due to improper routing, causing the throttle to stick. This could result in the operator not being able to stop the vehicle, posing a crash hazard.

Recall date: September 4, 2019

Units: About 19,730 (In addition, about 840 were sold in Canada)

Description: This recall involves John Deere Gator utility vehicles with model number “XUV835” printed on the hood. “John Deere” and “Gator” are printed on the cargo box. The serial number is located on the frame directly above right front tire and begins with 1M0835 and falls within the ranges on the chart below. The recalled utility vehicles were sold in green and yellow, olive drab and camouflage and have side-by-side seating for two or three people, depending on the seat option.

Serial Number Range

1M0835ExxxM010001 – 1M0835ExxxM020413

1M0835MxxxM010001 – 1M0835MxxxM022741

1M0835RxxxM010001 – 1M0835RxxxM023115

1M0835EAPMM560107

1M0835MECLM544103

1M0835MAPMM560108

1M0835RBCLM544102

1M0835RATMM560102

1M0835RAPMM560103

1M0835RAKMM560104

1M0835RAJMM560105

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact an authorized John Deere dealer for a free inspection and repair of improperly routed throttle cables. John Deere is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Incidents/Injuries: John Deere has received reports of nine incidents. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At: John Deere dealers nationwide from November 2017 through July 2019 for between $13,860 and $22,930.

Manufacturer(s): Deere & Company, of Moline, Ill.

Manufactured In: U.S.

Recall number: 19-776

Report an Incident Involving this Product

SVR’s Take

This is a large recall relative to the total sales of John Deere gator utility vehicles, even though the sales stretch over nearly two years. There have been a number of throttle related recalls in the industry the last year including a smaller Gator XUV590 recall. This and other recalls continues the disturbing trend of a relatively high number of recalled vehicles in relation to annual industry sales. Smallvehicleresource.com maintains a list of small, task-oriented vehicle recalls.

Kawasaki Recalls Teryx UTVs

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Kawasaki Teryx utility vehicle being recalled

Kawasaki is recalling approximately 2,625 model year 2019 and 2020 Teryx 800 4×4 two seat and Teryx4 750 4×4 four seat utility vehicles. Dealers sold the recalled UTVs in non-EPS, EPS and LE trim levels. The left side upper knuckle joint nut could have been improperly tightened, potentially affecting steering control and posing a crash hazard. Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately and contact a Kawasaki dealer for a free repair. The following are the recall details from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Teryx Recall Details

Name of product: Teryx® and Teryx4™ recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs)

Hazard: Incorrect joint assembly can cause steering control loss, posing crash and injury hazards.

Recall date: September 4, 2019

Units: About 2,600

Description: This recall involves model year 2019 and 2020 Teryx and Teryx4 recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), models KRF800FKF/L, KRF800GKF/A/AL/L, KRF800HKF/L, KRT800FKF/L, KRT800GKF/A/AL/L, KRT800HKF/L, KRF800FLF/L, KRF800GLF/L, KRF800HLF/L, KRT800FLF/L, KRT800GLF/A/AL/L and KRT800HLF/L. The recalled vehicles were sold in various colors including: black, camo, gray, green, orange and white; and in three different styles: Non-EPS, EPS and EPS LE. The vehicles have either two or four seats, automotive style controls and a rear box. Kawasaki is printed on the vehicle’s hood and rear box. Teryx or Teryx4 is printed on the right and left front fender.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact an authorized Kawasaki dealer to schedule a free repair. Kawasaki is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Sold At: Kawasaki dealers nationwide from March 2019 through August 2019 from between $13,000 and $17,000.

Manufacturer(s): Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. U.S.A., Lincoln, Neb.

Manufactured In: United States

Recall number: 19-777

Report an Incident Involving this Product

Consumer Contact: Kawasaki toll-free at 866-802-9381 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.kawasaki.com and click on Recalls at the bottom of the homepage for more information.

Smallvehicleresource.com maintains a list of small, task-oriented vehicle recalls.

Club Car 411 Utility Vehicle

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Club Car 411 flatbed configuration — The flatbed version of the Club Car 411 utility vehicle.

Club Car 411 Van Box Configuration — The van box version of the Club Car 411 utility vehicle.

Club Car 411 Overview

Earlier this year Club Car introduced the Club Car 411 utility vehicle, an all-electric vehicle for cargo services and low speed logistics. The 411 is the result of a partnership between Club Car and AEV Technologies, a manufacturer of light-duty battery-electric vehicles. The partnership combines AEV’s expertise in design and manufacturing with the dealer network and brand power of Club Car.

Club Car 411 Target Market

The Club Car 411 is targeting the space between full-sized trucks and smaller golf car based utility trucks. The partners designed the vehicles to have a lower cost of acquisition, operation and overall ownership while meeting the demand for clean energy vehicles. Typical uses would be on corporate and college campuses, in warehouses and as part of municipal fleets.

Vehicle Capabilities

The Club Car 411 comes in three basic configurations: a van box, a pickup with sides and a flatbed. The vehicles have a curb weight of approximately 2,100 lbs depending on the configuration and a payload capacity of 1,100 lbs. As an LSV the top speed is 25 mph and it has a range of 50 miles. A 10 Kw, 13.4 hp AC motor paired with a 240A AC controller powers the rear-wheel vehicle. The six sealed lead acid batteries provide a range of up to 50 miles.

Standard Features & Options

Standard features include a backup camera, 7″ LCM display, reinforced ABS body panels and cabin heating. The 411 has a reinforced steel chassis, 4-wheel, hydraulic disc brakes and power assist steering. Options include fleet management systems including GPS and geofencing.

SVR’s Take

This is a curious move by Club Car. Clearly the vehicle fits with their existing customer base and dealer network, but rather than develop the vehicle themselves they partnered with AEV Technologies. I speculate that the partnership reduces Club Car’s development costs and associated risks. For AEV, the partnership gives them access to a large customer base. AEV Technologies also makes a three wheeled vehicle similar to the Arcimoto FUV. Therefore, if the FUV makes inroads into Club Car’s PTV market then they could have a ready for market vehicle to compete against it.

Marc Cesare, Smallvehicleresource.com

Yamaha Golf Car Recalls Vehicles

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Yamaha UMAX TWO — The 2019 UMAX TWO is one of the vehicle Yamaha Golf Car is recalling.

Yamaha Golf Car Recall Overview

Yamaha Golf Car is recalling approximately 16,000 vehicles because of an issue with the USB port creates a fire hazard. The recall involves model year 2017 through 2019 vehicles including Drive2 fleet, Adventurer Two and some UMAX models. The recall affects both electric and gas powered models. The following recall details are from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Yamaha Golf Car Recall Details

Name of product: Yamaha golf cars, personal transportation and specialty vehicles

Hazard: The module that regulates power to the vehicle’s USB ports can overheat and melt, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Repair

Recall date: August 28, 2019

Units: 16,000

Consumer contact: Yamaha toll-free at 866-747-4027 anytime or online at www.yamahagolfcar.com and click on “CPSC Recall Alerts” for more information.

Description: This recall involves the following model year 2016 through 2018 gas and electric-powered golf cars, personal transportation and specialty vehicles. The vehicles were sold in various colors including blue, green, red, white, tan and silver. The model and serial number can be found on a label under the seat on the left or right side.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the USB charging device in the recalled vehicles and contact a Yamaha golf car dealer to schedule a free repair. Yamaha is contacting all registered owners directly..

Incidents/Injuries: Yamaha has received five reports of associated fire incidents and 100 reports of a melted USB voltage-reducer module. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At:Exclusively at Yamaha golf car dealers nationwide from June 2016 through June 2019 for between $6,000 and $11,000.

Manufacturer(s): Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America, of Newnan, Ga.

Distributor(s): Yamaha Golf-Car Company, of Kennesaw, Ga.

Assembled in: U.S.

Recall number: 19-774

SVR’s Take

Yamaha recalled some of these vehicles previously because of an issue with the accelerator pedal. While this recall is large, given Yamaha Golf Cars’ total sales, it is small in comparison to that previous recall which involved 145,000 vehicles. Smallvehicleresource.com maintains a list of small, task-oriented vehicle recalls.

Honda Pioneer 1000 Recall Very Large

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Honda Pioneer 1000-5 — 2016 to 2019 Honda Pioneer 1000 five and three passenger models being recalled.

Pioneer 1000 Recall Overview

Honda announced the recall of approximately 82,000 Pioneer 1000 side-by-sides covering model years 2016 to 2019. The throttle pedal can stick in the open position, potentially causing a crash. The Pioneer 1000 recall involves both three and five person models.

Pioneer 1000 Recall Details

The following recall details are from the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Hazard

The throttle pedal can stick in the open position, posing crash and injury hazards.

Remedy

Repair

Recall date

June 13, 2019

Units

About 82,000

Description

This recall involves all model year 2016 through 2019 Honda Pioneer 1000 side-by-side vehicles. The recalled vehicles were sold in various colors including: red, blue, green, gray and yellow. The name “HONDA” is on the front, sides and the rear of the vehicle. The model name Pioneer 1000 is printed on a label located on both sides of the vehicle, near the rear. The serial number (VIN #) is stamped in the frame at the left rear, below the tilt-up bed/seat. The following model numbers and serial number ranges are being recalled:

MY	Model
2016	SXS10M3*
2016	SXS10M5*
2017	SXS10M3*
2017	SXS10M5*
2018	SXS10M3*
2018	SXS10M5*
2019	SXS10M3*
2019	SXS10M5*

Consumer Contact

American Honda toll-free at 866-784-1870 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at http://powersports.honda.com/ and click on “Recall Information” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Incidents/Injuries

The firm has received 15 reports of the throttle pedal sticking in the open position, including six crashes, resulting in a report of a concussion and a broken nose.

Sold At

Authorized Honda Powersports dealers nationwide from August 2015 through March 2019 for between $14,000 and $22,000.

Manufacturer(s)

American Honda Motor Company Inc., of Torrance, Calif.

Manufactured In

United States

Recall number

19-753

SVR’s Take

This is a large recall and not what Honda wants as they are trying to generate some momentum in the high performance sport segment with their Talon vehicles. Many of these same models were previously recalled for a throttle body issue and a muffler overheating issue. In SVR’s recent STOV market study we devote a section to analyzing the recalls in the UTV market. The bottom line is that the industry has had to recall too many vehicles. Since 2013, the percentage of annual unit sales for the entire North American UTV market that have been recalled averaged over 20%. Even if you remove the incredibly large Polaris recalls during the time period, the figures are still high for the rest of the market. This Honda Pioneer 1000 recall will only make those figures worse. Smallvehicleresource.com maintains a list of small, task-oriented vehicle recalls.

Recent Polaris Recalls

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Polaris Recalls Overview

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently detailed recalls for two different Polaris UTVs, the Ranger EV and the 2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S. The Ranger EV recall covers model years 2015 to 2019. Polaris previously announced the RZR XP 4 Turbo S in January, 2019 during the government shutdown.

Ranger EV Recall Details

Polaris Ranger EV electric UTV. — Polaris is recalling model year 2015 to 2019 Ranger EVs, their electric powered UTV.

According to the CPSC recall information an incorrectly wired chassis harness on the Ranger EV can cause a bad throttle control signal. As a result, there can be an unexpected acceleration. The recall involves approximately 3,900 vehicles sold from February 2014 through January 2019. The 2015 to 2019 model year vehicles were available in avalanche gray and pursuit camo. There have been eight reports of unexpected accelerations including one incident resulting in injuries. Accordingly, consumers should immediately stop using the vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair. In addition, Polaris is contacting registered owners directly.

RZR XP 4 Turbo S Recall Details

Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S high performance sport UTV — Polaris is recalling the 2019 RZR XP 4 Turbo S because of brake issues.

The Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S recall includes model year 2019 vehicles which were sold in blue and red. Potentially, the brakes can fail and cause a crash. To date, Polaris has received 11 reports of brake failures, resulting in one crash and one rollover incident. Accordingly, owners should immediately stop using the vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair. In addition, Polaris is contacting registered owners directly. The CPSC did not estimate how many vehicles are involved in the recall. Dealers sold the vehicles from December 2017 through January 2019.

Smallvehicleresource.com maintains a list of small, task-oriented vehicle recalls.

Honda 2020 UTV Lineup

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Honda Talon 1000X-4 sport side-by-side — The new four-seat Honda Talon 1000X-4 for model year 2020.

Honda Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve with sensor suspension — The Honda Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve features a sensor driven suspension.

Honda recently announced the addition of two four-seat Talon models to build out their sport lineup. For the rest of the Honda 2020 UTV lineup, which consists of Pioneer UTVs, there were only minor changes.

Honda 2020 UTV Lineup Changes

The most important changes are the addition of the two four-seat Talon models mentioned above. The two-seat Talons are back for 2020 but pricing information is not yet available. The Pioneer lineup changes primarily involves some price increases and a few color changes.

The Pioneer 500 models increased in price by $100 to $9,199, roughly 1%. They also removed the Active Yellow and Olive color options and added a new Moose Brown.
The Pioneer 700 and 700 Deluxe increased by $200, about 2%, to $10,999 and $12,499 respectively. Red and White color options have replaced Olive for the base model and Matte Silver has replaced Pearl Orange for the Deluxe model.
The Pioneer 700-4 maintains the same price at $12,399 but Metallic Silver replaces Red as the model color.
For the Pioneer 1000 models, the Pioneer 1000 EPS model from 2019 has become the new base Pioneer 1000 for 2020 with EPS standard across the line. Honda decreased the price by $100 to $15,799.
The Honda 2020 UTV lineup dropped the Pioneer 1000 LE and 2019’s non-EPS base model. Meanwhile, they added a Pioneer 1000 Deluxe version for $16,799 with LED headlights, 14″ blacked-out aluminum wheels and a Honda Phantom Camo paint option ($800 more).
For the crew versions the Pioneer 1000-5 increased in price by $300 or almost 2%, as did the Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe. The Deluxe swaps a new Reactor Blue color option for last year’s Black while maintaining the Red and Camo choices. The MSRP for this model increased by $300 as well. There was no price increase for the Pioneer 1000-5 LE model but Matte Green Metallic replaces Matte Silver as the sole color option.

SVR’s Take

The addition of the four-seat Talons is an important step as there is a definite need in the sport market for a multi-passenger experience. The changes to the Pioneer lineup are relatively minor except for dropping a couple of the Pioneer 1000 variations. I assume those configurations were not selling well and most buyers found other models a more compelling choice. The price increases are relatively minor and basically keep up with inflation. Going forward a narrower version of the Talon could be the next step in that lineup. They may also choose to refresh the Pioneer lineup which has not had any major changes in a few years. Marc Cesare, Smallvehicleresource.com

Honda Unveils Four-Seat Talon Models

Posted on June 8, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Honda recently unveiled their two new four-seat side-by-sides, the Talon 1000X-4 and Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve. The launch follows on the release of their two-seat models last year. The introduction of those side-by-sides marked Honda’s entry into the high end sport segment.

Talon 1000X-4

Not surprisingly, the Talon 1000X-4 is similar to the two-seat 1000X. Key features include:

999cc four-valve Unicam® parallel-twin engine
Six-speed dual clutch transmission with full automatic, sport automatic and manual drive modes
Steering column mounted paddle shifters
FOX Podium Quick Switch 3 shocks
14.6″/15.0″ of front/rear suspension travel
4WD traction-aiding technology
Hill start assist
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Stadium style rear seating
Available in Metallic Grey/Pearl Red in Fall 2019

Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve

The Talon 1000X-4 FOX Live Valve is similar to the Talon 1000X-4 but features a different suspension system. The system relies on multiple sensors to make adjustments 16 times per second for an improved ride and handling.

999cc four-valve Unicam® parallel-twin engine

Six-speed dual clutch transmission with full automatic, sport automatic and manual drive modes

Steering column mounted paddle shifters

FOX Podium Quick Switch 3 2.5 shocks front and rear

Multiple sensor based shock adjustment for Normal and Sport drive modes

14.6″/15.0″ of front/rear suspension travel

Electronic Launch Mode

4WD traction-aiding technology

Hill start assist

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution

Stadium style rear seating
Available in Pearl Red/Metallic Grey or Metallic Grey/Metallic Blue in Fall 2019

Honda has not released an MSRP for either vehicle at the time of this post.

SVR’s Take

The expansion of Honda’s Talon product line is to be expected. They didn’t enter this market segment last year to just sell a couple of models. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the addition of a narrower side-by-side or possibly some special edition models in six months time or certainly by a year from now. In only a few years the segment went from Polaris, Can-Am and Arctic Cat battling for market share to Yamaha and more recently Honda joining the fray. As a result, consumers now have more models and technology innovations from which to choose. In addition, the competition should keep the pricing down and the value proposition high. Marc Cesare, Smallvehicleresource.com

BRP Quarterly Results Strong

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Marc Cesare

2019 Can-Am Defender HD8 help drive BRP quarterly results — Models like the Can-Am Defender HD8 features which was upgraded for MY2019 helped drive BRP sales.

BRP Quarterly Results Overview

BRP reported another strong quarter with revenues increasing 17% year over year to $1,334 billion (CA). Year-Round Products segment sales drove the BRP quarterly results for the first quarter of their 2020 fiscal year. In addition, sales increased across US, Canadian and International markets. Management reported that the company’s retail growth outpaced or at least matched industry growth around the globe.

UTV Related Highlights

The following are some of the highlights from the BRP quarterly results as they relate to the UTV market.

Similar to other OEMs, BRP noted that snowbelt weather hindered retail sales early in the quarter but rebounded later
Weather delayed sales rather than being permanently lost
Side-by-side North American retail sales increased high single digits compared to mid-single digits for the industry
Retail sales could have been higher except for constrained Defender UTVs supply
Management reported strong promotional activity from competitors during the quarter but the environment is improving
Side-by-side retail sales for the season(~ 10 months) are up high teens %
Globally, BRP side-by-side average selling price is flat and up slightly for YTD and quarter respectively
Defender sales have been particularly strong and supply remains tight
Management reports taking the most side-by-side market share in the industry for the season in both utility and sport segments
Market share is up in Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions as well
Do to supplier locations, China related tariffs minimally affect costs
BRP is launching a new side-by-side platform in June
Increased production capacity will be online
Management increased their guidance for FY2020 results, predicting revenue to increase 9% to 13%
Guidance for Year-Round Products which includes side-by-sides is for a 14% to 19% increase

Learn more: Earnings call transcript (seekingalpha.com)

SVR’s Take

BRP continues to be the main challenger to Polaris in the side-by-side market. Between the two of them they control around 60% of the market. With both growing market share for the most part, many of the other manufacturers are likely suffering. The success of the Can-Am Defender line, particularly in agriculture markets, is likely hurting companies such as Kubota and John Deere.

New Bobcat UTVs Announced

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Marc Cesare

Diesel powered Bobcat UV34 utility vehicle — The new 2019 Bobcat UV34 utility vehicle features upgrades to the suspension, chassis and cabin.

Diesel powered Bobcat UV34XL utility vehicle — The new six passenger Bobcat UV34XL utility vehicle is diesel powered and features a number of upgrades.

Bobcat UTVs Overview

Bobcat has launched two new diesel powered UTVs for 2019 with a new chassis, improved suspension and high towing capacity. The UV34 and UV34XL feature a 23.5 hp, liquid cooled diesel engine that is Tier 4 emissions compliant. Towing capacity has been increased to 2,500 lbs. In addition, these models have new shocks and springs and stronger drive components. The UV34 seats two and the UV34XL seats six.

Key Specs

Other key specs shared by both models include:

Turf, 2WD or 4WD drive modes
1,250 lb. capacity cargo box with manual dump or optional power dump
Independent rear suspension with sway bar
11.7″ of ground clearance
35 mph maximum speed or limited to 15 mph or 25 mph with optional speed kit
Larger controls and instrument gauges
New cab design for easy entry and exit
Flip-up seat storage
Tilt steering

The UV34 starts at $16,406 and the UV34XL starts at $17,886. There was no mention of when the vehicles would be available at local dealers. A search of several Bobcat dealer websites did not show the utility vehicles as available yet.

SVR’s Take

The new utility vehicles are basically an upgrade of Bobcat’s 3400 diesel model. Those models have been around for several years without any significant changes. Given the increased competition in the market, the 3400 is likely looking a little dated compared to newer competitive offerings. For example, Can-Am’s Defender line has made inroads in the farm segment in particular. In addition, market leader Polaris is frequently updating different parts of their Ranger lineup. The new UV34 and UV34XL feature pricing slightly higher than the 3400 models.