Model year

2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP

Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from May 18, 2015 to Aug 28, 2023.

Recall campaigns covering this model year0No recall campaign lists this model year
Owner complaints168.0 times the median 2015 motorcycle
Severity index50.02015 motorcycles average 12.7
First 24 months15Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP peaked in 2015, with 12 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

03691220151220162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

56% of complaints about the 2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP name engine and cooling

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Engine and cooling
9
Structure
8
Electrical system
2
Fuel system
2
Powertrain
2
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

No recall campaign lists the 2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

16 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Aug 28, 2023Failure Aug 28, 2016Boston, VAEngine, Fuel system, Gasoline

    The contact owns a 2015 Polaris Sportsman 570. The contact stated while starting the vehicle. The engine ran for approximately 10 minutes and shut off. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred on a third occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

    NHTSA complaint 11541182
  2. Filed Aug 3, 2016Failure Sep 6, 2015200 milesEagan, MNElectrical system, Power train

    THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTS OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET AND IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. WATER GETS INTO THE DRIVE BELT WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS WET AND THE BELT SLIPS.

    NHTSA complaint 10892845
  3. Filed Jun 13, 2016Failure Jun 11, 20163 milesNatchez, MSBody

    EXHAUST PIPES FROM MOTOR TO MUFFER CHERRY RED AND PLASTIC MELTING HOT TO THE TOUCH IF U RIDE IT FOR MORE THAN TEN MINS ON DIRT ROAD OR IN CREEKS.

    NHTSA complaint 10873843
  4. Filed Jan 8, 2016Failure Jan 2, 2016191 milesAuburndale, FLEngineFire1 injured

    THE POOR DESIGN OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ROUTES THE HEADER PAST PLASTIC AND YOUR ANKLE AREA. MY EXHAUST HAS, SEVERAL TIMES, HEATED UP TO CHERRY RED. THE LAST TIME IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE PLASTIC AND BURNED MY BOOT (MY BODILY DAMAGE TO PERSONS). POLARIS REFUSES TO ADMIT A PROBLEM. THE HEAT IS SO GREAT WHEN RIDING IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT IN THE WHEEL WELL ON THE FOOT REST MAKING THIS MACHINE A FIRE HAZARD IN FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FORESTS AS WELL AS A HAZARD TO BEING BURNED OR LOOSING YOUR MACHINE TO FIRE. POLARIS IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

    NHTSA complaint 10818840
  5. Filed Sep 11, 2015Failure Jul 31, 20151,750 milesWassenaar, UTBodyFire1 injured

    EXHAUST TO HEAT

    NHTSA complaint 10763205
  6. Filed Aug 21, 2015Failure Aug 8, 2015420 milesEAU Claire, WIBody, Unknown or otherFire

    THE MUFFLER GETS SO HOT IT MELTS THE PLASTIC FENDER STARTS ON FIRE

    NHTSA complaint 10758474
  7. Filed Aug 21, 2015Failure Jun 7, 2015120 milesSAN Antonio, TXElectrical system, Engine, BodyFire

    ATV POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015 ALMOST NEW, 120 MILES ON IT. EXHAUST HEAT MELTED THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, FENDER AND OTHER SMALLER PLASTIC PARTS. FLEXIBLE HEAT SHIELDS WERE NOT ENOUGH AND DISTROYED AS WELL. VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE (MELTED PLASITC IGNITED), I TURNED THE FIRE WITH HANDS (TKS GOD I HAD GLOVES). DEALER WANT TO REPLACE PARTS ONLY, NO CHANGES AT ALL. HAVE BEEN WAITING 9 WEEKS FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE, NO PARTS YET. I'M A MECHANICAL ENGENEER AND ALMOST SURE THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOPE POLAIRS FINALLY LISTEN AND PROTECT THEIR CUSOTMERS SAFETY, BEFORE SOME ONE GET HURT. AS PER FORUMS, MORE THAN 50% OF THESE ATVS POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, MELTED PLASTIC PARTS.

    NHTSA complaint 10750322
  8. Filed Aug 20, 2015Failure Jul 15, 2015Clancy, MTUnknown or other

    AFTER RIDING ON SLOWER TRAILS OR FAST SPEEDS. IT DOESN'T MATTER THE MUFFLER BEGINS TO GLOW ORANGE. CAUSING RIDER DISCOMFORT AND FIRE DANGER TO BOTH VEHICLE AND A DANGER TO ARE BELOVED NATIONAL FOREST. I HAVE TAKEN BACK TO DEALER AND GOT THE IMPROVED EXHAUST SPRINGS AND DONUT INSTALLED. ALSO HAD NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY . IT ALSO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IMPROVED. HOWEVER SAME ISSUE STILL REMAINS.

    NHTSA complaint 10749958
  9. Filed Jul 5, 2015Failure Jul 25, 201420 milesBrevard, NCEngineFire

    THE MUFFLER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GLOWS RED AS A CHARCOAL BRIQUET UNDER ALL OPERATIONAL SPEEDS. THIS PRODUCES VERY EXCESSIVE HEAT AND RENDERS THE PLASTIC ABOVE THE REAR FENDER WELL UNTOUCHABLE. THE USFS APPROVED HEAT SHIELD IS VERY FLIMSY AND AT ONE POINT A TWIG GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE SHIELD AND THE MUFFLER AND WAS BURNING. WE JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE STOPPED ON THE TRAIL AND SMELLED THE FAMILIAR CAMPFIRE SMELL AND PULLED THE TWIG AWAY BEFORE IT CAUGHT THE DRY LEAVES ON FIRE. THIS IS AN OFFROAD VEHICLE AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY LIKE POLARIS WOULD MANUFACTURE AN ATV WITH THIS KIND OF ISSUE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR COMPLAINT AS THE ONLINE "POLARIS ATV FORUMS" WEBSITE IS COVERED UP WITH THREADS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

    NHTSA complaint 10732030
  10. Filed Jun 26, 2015Failure May 1, 2015438 milesShaver Lake, CAPower train, Body

    MUFFLER ON THIS MACHINE BECOMES RED HOT WITH NORMAL USE, AT SPEEDS OF 15-25 MPH PLASTIC IN AREA OF MUFFLER AND HEAT SHIELD BECOMES TO HOT TO TOUCH, IN SOME CASES MELTING PLASTIC BODY PARTS. IF THIS RED HOT MUFFLER WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH BRUSH THERE WOULD BE HIGH PROBABILITY OF FIRE. POLARIS DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN SOLVING THIS ISSUE.

    NHTSA complaint 10730620
  11. Filed Jun 19, 2015Failure Jun 18, 201513 milesCorrigan, TXEngine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire

    WHEN I RIDE THIS BRAND NEW SPORTSMAN XP 1000 THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GETS GLOWING RED HOT, PLASTIC FENDERS NEAR THE EXHAUST ARE UNTOUCHABLE, REAR TIRE IS EXTREMELY HOT, AND SOME GRASS THAT WAS THROWN ONTO THE EXHAUST CAUGHT FIRE. THIS IS A TWO WEEK OLD ATV WITH 13 MILES ON IT. I AM NOT RIDING THIS MACHINE HARD. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE MACHINE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AT A MINIMAL RPM. POLARIS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL BREAK IN OCCURRENCES. THESE MACHINES WILL CATCH AN OWNER'S PROPERTY ON FIRE AND/OR HURT SOMEONE SUBSTANTIALLY IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

    NHTSA complaint 10726286
  12. Filed Jun 16, 2015Failure May 9, 2013200 milesRigby, IDUnknown or other

    EXHAUST RUNNING SO HOT PLASTIC FENDERS MELTED. CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE. JUST RIDING SLOWLY ON AN OFF-ROAD TRAIL . DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE MELTED AGAIN WITHIN 20 MILES OF NEXT RIDE.

    NHTSA complaint 10725613
  13. Filed Jun 10, 2015Failure Apr 8, 201586 milesSpringfield, ILEngine, BodyFire

    EXHAUST BECOMES RED HOT ONLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF RIDING. THE EXHAUST MUFFLER IS VERY CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC FENDER AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. BECAUSE IT GETS SO HOT AND SITS SO CLOSE TO THE REAR TIRE I FEAR THAT THERE WILL BE A FIRE. IN FACT, I HAVE NOTICED LEAVES AND GRASS CATCH FIRE FROM NORMAL RIDING BUT THEY BURNED OFF WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC GETS SO HOT IT WILL SOFTEN AND BEND EASILY TO THE TOUCH. THE STICK ON HEAT SHIELD UNDER THE FENDER GETS SO HOT, IT LOST ITS STICKYNESS AND IS NOW FALLING OFF. IT ALSO GOT SO HOT THAT THE ALUMINUM HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE EXHAUST IS COMING APART AT THE FACTORY CRIMP POINTS.

    NHTSA complaint 10724614
  14. Filed Jun 4, 2015Failure May 30, 2015209 milesWestminster, MAEngine, Body

    AFTER A 15 MINUTE RIDE, THE MUFFLER WAS SO HOT IT WAS GLOWING RED. THE HEAT PUT OFF BY THE MUFFLER ACTUALLY MELTED MY REAR BODY PANEL ABOVE THE EXHAUST. THE HEAT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FIRE HAD I PARKED THE UNIT WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING THE EXHAUST, WHICH I DO AFTER EVERY RIDE AFTER READING SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10723324
  15. Filed Jun 2, 2015Failure Apr 30, 201550 milesReno, NVEngine, Body

    THE EXHAUST MUFFLER GETS SO HOT IT GLOWS ORANGE AND YOU CAN SMELL MELTING PLASTIC. I STOPPED RIDING THIS MACHINE DUE TO IT BEING A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.

    NHTSA complaint 10723085
  16. Filed May 18, 2015Failure May 16, 2015260 milesFarmington, MNEngineFire

    PURCHASED THIS 2015 SPORTSMAN 1000 XP BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY. MOST OF IT'S OPERATION HAS BEEN LOWER SPEEDS AT A LOCAL ATV PARK. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I HAD A CHANCE TO USE IT ON TRAILS IN A NATIONAL FOREST IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN. I NOTICED THAT OPERATION ABOVE 25-30 MPH RESULTED IN RED HOT METAL ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO A WEBSITE FORUM (POLARISATVFORUMS.COM), AND IT'S USERS THERE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCEDENT. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT GENERATED BY THIS EXHAUST SYSTEM, IT APPEARS ONE OF THE FASTENERS HAS FAILED ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE ATV GOT SOMEWHAT LOUDER (NOT TOO NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU'RE GOING 40 MPH). I THEN NOTICED MY RIGHT LEG BEGIN TO FEEL VERY VERY WARM (ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BURNING. LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE BODY PLASTICS SMOLDERING/SMOKING AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF FIRE. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A WET TOWEL. HAD I CONTINUED DRIVING (WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY ENOUGH TO DO BEING THAT IT WASN'T SIGNIFICANTLY LOUDER), I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT THE ATV WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN NO TIME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 15 HOURS OF USE ON IT, AND ONLY 260 OR SO MILES. IT'S BASICALLY BRAND NEW. WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS, BUT IT APPEARS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHERE THESE ATV'S OPERATE MOST OF THE TIME (NATIONAL FORESTS, SWAMPS, FARMER FIELDS ETC)- PLACES WHERE THERE IS MUCH FUEL TO ADD TO A FIRE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A FOREST FIRE ETC., IF NOT ADDRESSED SOON.

    NHTSA complaint 10716996
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

3 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • G-15-12-01 R01 Dec 10, 2015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    This Team Tip is being released to dealers to provide information regarding the required transition to online PCDX and PCDX training.
  • SAF-16-01 Aug 16, 2016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    A STOP RIDE MEANS THE CONSUMER MUST NOT OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. We have been made aware that some dealers are incorrectly communicating the importance of STOP RIDE communications.
  • I-15-04 Dec 3, 2015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.