Documents Suggest Yamaha Rhino Doesn't Handle as Advertised

By Jim Greene

Published on December 18, 2009

Statements from a government safety agency and numerous civil lawsuits concerning Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents have people concerned that using the vehicle according to the company's guidelines could result in tragedy. In some cases, accidents have been reported under relatively tame driving conditions.

The Rhino off-road vehicle (ORV) is shown on the Yamaha Web site navigating over some hefty boulders on a downhill slope. The text on one page reads, "Not only will the Rhino get you almost anywhere, it'll get you there with an amazingly high level of comfort and ease. Engineered in America to deal with America."

Reality May Not Live Up to Advertising

That sounds a lot more impressive than the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) statement that it has received reports of Rhinos rolling over at low speeds on level ground. The most common cause is sharp turns made by Rhino drivers, maneuvers that would seem to be within the capabilities of a vehicle that will "get you almost anywhere."

Critics of the Rhino say it won't handle a sharp turn because it's tall and narrow, making it too top-heavy to be as stable as portrayed in company advertising, a characteristic that could also lead to a rollover when driving perpendicularly on a slope.

Yamaha Agrees to Stability Modifications

While the CPSC did not force a recall of Rhino ORVs, it did negotiate with Yamaha to initiate a voluntary repair program in an attempt to make the vehicle more stable. Under the agreement, the company will extend the rear wheelbase of any previously sold Rhino, free of charge to the owner. A rear sway bar is also removed as part of the procedure.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a Rhino rollover or other accident because the vehicle didn't perform as promised, you need to contact an experienced defective products/personal injury attorney right away. Recovering from an accident and its aftermath can be a serious financial challenge, and your attorney will fight to see that you are compensated.

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