NHTSA Complaint #10265235 — 2001 POLARIS 1633

MY SON WAS RIDING HIS 2001 90CC ARCTIC CAT ATV WHEN IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A POORLY DESIGN 2 CYCLE OIL RESERVOIR. THE PROXIMITY OF THE RESERVOIR TO THE EXHAUST PIPE ALLOWED FOR ANY EXCESS OIL OR COMMON OIL LEAKAGE TO BE EXPOSED TO THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. ATTEMPTS BY ME TO REGULAR CLEAN THIS AREA AND PERIODICALLY POWER WASH ANY EXCESS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ELIMINATE THE RISK OF THIS OCCURRING. ONCE THE FIRE BEGAN, IT COMPLETELY MELTED THE RESERVOIR. THIS ALLOWED FOR FIRE THAT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ATV. TO THE POINT THAT IS CLASSIFIED AS "TOTALED". FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL MY SON FROM THE ATV AND APPLY WATER TO THE FIRE. MY SON WAS ABLE TO AVOID PHYSICAL INJURY, BUT THE EXPERIENCE RESULTING IN AN EMOTIONAL HARDSHIP. NOT INCLUDE THE LOSS OF A ATV. *TR