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.
Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from May 18, 2015 to Aug 28, 2023.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
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.
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 11541182THE 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 10892845EXHAUST 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 10873843THE 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 10818840EXHAUST TO HEAT
NHTSA complaint 10763205THE MUFFLER GETS SO HOT IT MELTS THE PLASTIC FENDER STARTS ON FIRE
NHTSA complaint 10758474ATV 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 10750322AFTER 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 10749958THE 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 10732030MUFFLER 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 10730620WHEN 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 10726286EXHAUST 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 10725613EXHAUST 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 10724614AFTER 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 10723324THE 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 10723085PURCHASED 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 10716996Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.