NHTSA Complaint #11012553 — 2012 POLARIS RANGER 800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 (NA) POLARIS RANGER 800. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE PASSENGER OBSERVED THAT HIS SEAT WAS VERY HOT. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF A FAILURE WITH THE SEAT SUPPORT BECAUSE IT WAS HOOKED TO THE HEAT SHIELD THAT WAS LOCATED ABOVE THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (WEEKENDER SPORTS, 141 W BRIDGE S, HOTCHKISS, CO 81419) WHERE THEY SUGGESTED ANOTHER SEAT; HOWEVER, THAT SEAT WAS IN WORSE CONDITION, SO THE CONTACT DECLINED. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE SEAT FROM MELTING AND OBTAINING HEAT, THE CONTACT PLACED A PIECE OF ALUMINUM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT AND IN BETWEEN A PIECE OF WOOD; HOWEVER, THE ATTEMPT FAILED. DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER, THE PLASTIC MELTED MORE AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE PRESSURE FROM THE BODY WEIGHT ALSO PLACED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE AND STATED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SEATS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: C4162165. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CONSIDER THE REPAIR COST AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE 4-6 WEEKS. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE ENGINEER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT, AFTER REVIEW, THEIR ENGINEERING WAS NOT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PARTS AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.