Polaris tells snowmachiners not to ride a decade’s worth of models over fire risk

Polaris is telling snowmachine owners not to ride a number of popular models produced over the last decade due to the risk of ruptured fuel tanks.

In a written statement Tuesday, the company said the problem can crop up “with degraded fuel and especially after extended storage,” adding it can cause “a risk of fire due to electrostatic discharge (ESD) inside the fuel tank.”

The order pertains to Matryx models from 2021 to 2023, Axys models from 2015 to 2022, and Trail Performance (pro-ride) snowmachines from 2013 and 2014.

“Under specific conditions, vapors may be ignited inside the fuel tank, posing a potential injury hazard to consumers,” the company said.

The risk of injury is real: According to the company, 30 fuel tanks have ruptured, 16 caught fire, and one person was reportedly hurt.

Snow Goer, a publication covering snowmachine-related news and industry developments, called the announcement “perhaps one of the most stunning recall-related notices we’ve ever seen.”

The company said it is alerting customers of the issue directly. Owners can also check to see if their vehicle is included in the notice on Polaris’ recall site. Eventually the machines will need to be serviced by technicians.

Polaris estimates the problem affects around 230,000 snowmachines worldwide, though a spokesperson said in an email the company does not have state-specific figures and cannot say how many of those units are in Alaska.

Polaris retailers in Alaska contacted Tuesday by the Daily News had not yet heard about the problem and could not speak to specific issues related to the stop ride notice.

Though rideable snow conditions and river freeze-up are still months away in Alaska, Polaris is urging owners not to ride or turn on their machines.

“DO NOT attempt any repairs yourself,” the company said. “If a rider needs to start their snowmobile, they must make sure the fuel tank is full and, if it is not, then they need to add fresh gasoline to fill the tank.”

As with other product recalls or service notices, the company says it will deploy a remedy to local dealers, who will go about repairing units this winter.

That can prove challenging for owners in rural communities, whose options are often limited to getting their machines into a hub community where an authorized dealer can make repairs, or else pay for shipping the vehicles all the way to the road system.

“We recognize this is frustrating and an inconvenience for our dealers and customers, but safety is the driver behind our decision and we are committed to making this right,” said Polaris spokesperson Jess Rogers. “We are working quickly on a solution, so that our riders can maximize the riding season. As we are currently validating the fix, I don’t have details to share yet, but we are putting plans in place to support our customers and dealers once we have a validated solution.”