Polaris has found more issues with the snowmobiles recalled in 2022 for a fire hazard caused by fuel tank issues.
Polaris says owners of recalled snowmobiles should use E10 fuel to avoid potential fire hazard
In 2022 Polaris recalled 230,000 snowmobiles to fix a fuel tank issue; now the company says owners should take additional safety steps.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
February 15, 2024 at 8:21PM
Even after original fixes, the company is pointing to eight more incidents of electrostatic discharge (ESD) causing fires on repaired vehicles.
The Medina-based powersports maker is not issuing a new stop ride/stop sale order but is now asking owners to switch fuel types in order to reduce the risk of ESD while the company works on a permanent fix.
Polaris is asking owners to use E10 fuel (meaning fuel that contains up to 10% ethanol) that has 91 octane or greater. The company says the E10 fuel type prevents electrostatic buildup and ESD.
The company will send out new fuel labels to remind owners of fuels to use and avoid. It also has instructions to change the fuel type in its instrument settings.
“We understand the importance of the riding season, and being able to share this solution means our riders can ride safely this winter,” said a company spokesperson.
A service bulletin on the company’s website also gives additional instructions on summer storage and restarting vehicles after storage to minimize risks of ESD.
The notice affects 265,000 snowmobiles — the 230,000 snowmobiles that were part of the initial recall and new snowmobiles that had included the initial fix.
The company has also informed the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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