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On July 8, 2010, the following defective all-terrain vehicle product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm mentioned below in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Suzuki QuadSport ATVs

Units: About 1,355

Distributors: American Suzuki Motor Corp., of Brea, California; Montgomery Motors, Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii; Suzuki del Caribe Inc., of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Hazard: The flame arrester screen can become detached from its mounting ring, preventing the throttle valve from returning to the idle position when the throttle lever is released and causing the rider to lose control of the ATV. This poses a serious hazard of injury or death.

Incidents/Injuries: American Suzuki has received two reports of flame arrester screens detaching from the mounting ring. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves all Suzuki 2009 model year LT-Z400K9 (QuadSport Z400) and LT-Z400ZK9 (QuadSport Z400 Special Edition) ATVs. “QuadSport Z400″ or “QuadSport Z400Z” is written on the sides and left front fender of the ATV. “Suzuki” is written on the sides of the ATV.

Sold at: Suzuki ATV dealers nationwide from September 2008 through June 2010 for between $6,500 and $6,700.

Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these vehicles immediately and contact a local Suzuki ATV dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Consumers with recalled ATVs are being sent a notice directly from Suzuki.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Suzuki at (800) 444-5077 between  8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.suzukicycles.com

Yamaha Rhino ATVs have been linked to elevated number of rollover accidents. Significant design flaws in the Yamaha Rhino have made it top heavy and prone to rollover and have caused deaths, broken bones, and amputations.

On April 29, 2010, a new defective product safety recall was voluntarily carried out by the U.S. CPSC and Yamaha Motor Corp. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Yamaha All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

Units: About 20,000

Manufacturer: Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A., of Cypress, California.

Hazard: The steering column support assembly can crack and cause the rider to lose steering control, posing a risk of injury or death to riders.

Incidents/Injuries: Yamaha has received 19 reports of incidents involving the recalled ATVs. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the non-power steering models. Model names can be found on both the right and left hand side of the unit on the side panel.The following model numbers are affected by this recall:

Sold at: Yamaha dealers nationwide from October 2007 through March 2010 for between $7,000 and $9,500.

Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ATVs and contact their local Yamaha dealer to schedule a free repair. Registered owners were sent direct mail notification of the recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Yamaha at (800) 962-7926 any time or visit the company’s website at www.yahama-motor.com

The number of children and adults seriously injured or killed due to Yamaha Rhino ATV rollovers increases annually in the United States. For example, the Yamaha Rhino Atv has a smaller tires and a narrower wheel base, which increases the chances of the vehicle rolling over.

On April 21, 2010, two sets of DeSoto County, Mississippi parents joined hundreds of other people across the country suing Yamaha for wrongful injury or death. They jointly filed their lawsuit in state court in Gwinnett County, Georgia, where defendant Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America has its principal office, according to a recently published DeSoto Times Tribune news report.

The couples each lost a daughter on October 18, 2008, when a Yamaha Rhino in which the 11-year-old girls were riding rolled over after leaving and then being steered back onto a paved surface in a community south of Olive Branch.

The girls’ deaths are among nearly 50 attributed to the Yamaha Rhino and which drew attention from the Consumer Product Safety Commission last year during its investigation into whether regulations are needed for four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, sometimes called side-by-sides or ROVs.

ROVs in general resemble rugged golf carts and are blamed for more than 100 deaths since 2003. However, the Yamaha Rhino has been alleged responsible for more deaths, and injuries, than any other brand.

Approximately 700 lawsuits in federal and state courts involve Yamaha and its two Rhino models, both which were voluntarily recalled last March for free repairs aimed at reducing the chance of rollover and increasing passenger safety.

The lawsuit also claims some of the Yamaha Rhino’s safety features are inadequate and in many rollovers, contributed to injury or death rather than preventing it.