Yamaha Rhino All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) rollover accidents have injured – and in some cases killed – hundreds of people. Some consumer advocates claim that flaws inherent in the design of the vehicles are responsible for Yamaha Rhino ATV accidents, as well as the resulting injuries and deaths. In 2007, Yamaha finally responded to the Rhino ATV safety issues by offering free modifications to make the vehicles safer, but the company stopped short of issuing a Rhino ATV recall.
ATVs are infamous for rollover accidents. Such vehicles are three or four wheeled and are used for “off-roading” or riding in natural conditions. Many ATVs can go as fast as 55 MPH and can weigh as heavy as a quarter of a ton. Some 75% of the ATV accidents result in serious damage to the head or spinal cord of the accident victim. Head injuries are a major cause of serious life threatening or lifelong physical problems and ailments. Injury to the spinal cord can result in paralysis of the entire body for life.
While many ATVs are prone to accidents, the Yamaha Rhino ATV is even more likely to be involved in rollover accidents. What’s more, these accidents are also more likely to result in serious injuries and deaths. Critics say the Yamaha Rhino is top heavy, and it has tires that are extremely narrow. These design defects make it far more likely that the Yamaha Rhino will tip and rollover while going through a turn, even when the vehicle is traveling at a slow speed and is on a flat surface. Furthermore, the Yamaha Rhino is designed in such a way that passengers’ legs are unprotected in the event of a rollover accident. Victims of Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents usually experience broken or crushed legs, ankles or feet. In some cases, victims have been permanently disabled, and have had limbs amputated following a Yamaha Rhino rollover accident. When Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents involve children, the results are often fatal.
Yamaha has been slow to acknowledge the Rhino ATVs rollover problems since the vehicles were first introduced in 2003. In September 2006, Yamaha Motor Corp. sent a letter to the owners of Rhino ATVs warning that the Rhino was prone to tip while going through sharp turns. However, the wording of the Yamaha letter seemed to place much of the blame for Rhino rollover accident injuries on the victims themselves. Yamaha warned passengers of the Rhino ATVs to use seatbelts, and to keep their hands, arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. The letter also included information on handling the Rhino if it should start to tip over. But since Yamaha sent the 2006 letter, it has become increasingly apparent that the actions recommended by Yamaha do little to protect passengers involved in Rhino rollover accidents.
It wasn’t until 2007 that Yamaha appeared to finally take the Rhino’s safety issues seriously. At that time, the company offered free modifications to the owners of new and used Rhinos. These modifications included the addition of doors to the ATV, as well as additional handholds. However, the company still has not recalled or offered refunds to the owners of the dangerous Rhino ATVs. It is not yet known if the modifications to the Yamaha Rhino ATVs will in fact make the vehicles safer.
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April 8th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Learn how to ride safely and you won’t flip your ATV. But, it’s always someone else’s fault in present day America..
April 27th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Have you had any problems with this model?
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 am
The issue isn’t riding safely. It’s a poor design of the Rhino. They are top heavy with a narrow wheel base. Lock it in 4WD (not differential), cut the wheel, hit the gas and you’re on your side.
Who does that? Well people offroading who get caught in a situation where they need to avoid a greater danger by turning the vehicle while it’s locked into 4WD, not knowing how easy the torque will put them on their side.
No one goes to the dealership and asks for a rollover demonstration to see how easy a vehicle is to rollover. The warning label states that the vehicle can tip over if you make abrupt maneuvers at higher speeds. The label doesn’t state the truth which is 3-5 mph, 4 WD locked in, sharp turn = on your side. I know, I’ve done it.
Yamaha first hands out free side doors and a passenger handle in the center of the vehicle. It’s not natural to have the passengers arm across their waist holding on to a handle so it probably doesn’t get used much.
Then they offer free spacers in the rear and remove the rear anti-sway bar to improve stability.
Because they offer these things before a recall is required, they are good boys and girls thhough they admit to no design flaws. These modifications are highly encouraged though optional according to Yamaha. If they weren’t optional then it would be a recall. But don’t get caught in a courtroom with a new injury without having had these modifications done prior to the accident. You’ll probably lose your case.
So, if Rhinos can roll over at low speeds in 4 WD, imagine what could happen at it’s top speed of 40 mph. Not that anyone should try such maneuvers.
It is insane for Yamaha or anyone else to think that people won’t get caught up in a good time and begin pushing a vehicle to the limit; Or forgetting that the vehicle is still in 4WD when they make that turn or failing to realize your 16 year old son in the passenger seat has his arm out of the vehicle while you are driving through the woods.
I have yet to see anyone, ever, in a or on a recreational offroad vehicle wearing a helmet, goggles, gloves, chest and back guards and so on especially in the hot summers. It’s just not realistic. Perhaps they should, but again it’s not realistic.