Kawasaki issued two separate recalls for about 80,000 MULE Pro off-highway utility vehicles because they could pose serious fire and crash hazards. According to an alert on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website, Kawasaki has recalled certain 2015 to 2020 model-year MULE PRO-FX, FXR and FXT off-highway utility vehicles. The problem with these vehicles is that debris can ignite on the vehicle’s exhaust manifold. Further, frozen water can block the breather hose and allow oil to leak, posing the danger of a fire.
Reports of Burn Injuries
So far, Kawasaki has received 165 reports of oil leakage, 84 reports of vehicles catching fire and three injuries because of the fires. The injuries include one report of burn injuries to a person’s food, one report of a burn to the person’s arm, hand, and buttocks and one report of smoke inhalation. Kawasaki is also aware of more than $131,000 in property damage claims excluding the cost of damage to the recalled vehicles.
Kawasaki has also recalled certain 2015 to 2020 model-year MULE Pro utility vehicles because of a crash hazard. In these vehicles, the steering shaft can develop excessive wear. This could affect steering control and could cause a crash posing the risk of serious injury or death, according to the CPSC’s recall notice. For more information, contact Kawasaki toll-free at 866-802-9381 or visit Kawasaki.com and click on “Recalls.”
Product Liability Issues
There have been some recalls over the years involving utility vehicles, including faulty designs that could result in major rollover crashes. Utility vehicles in the past have also been recalled for fire danger and the risk of causing a crash. Vehicle fires have the potential to result in serious damage including burn injuries, smoke inhalation injuries and even deaths.
Suppose you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective product. In that case, you may be able to file a product liability claim seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Families that have lost loved ones may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation as well.
An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to advise victims in such cases regarding their legal rights and options and help hold the manufacturer of the defective product accountable.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/kawasaki-usa-recalls-off-highway-utility-vehicles-due-to-crash-hazard-recall-alert
