The Subrogation Strategist

In subrogation cases where the insured’s damages were caused by a defective product, the fact that the product at issue is or was subject to a recall announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) may help to establish that the product was defective when it left the manufacturer’s possession and control. On April 16, 2020, the CPSC announced the following recalls related to products that present fire hazards:

1. Polaris Recalls Model Year 2018 to 2020 Ranger XP 1000 Off-Road Vehicles. According to the CPSC, “[th]e clutch belt can break and damage the secondary clutch and the fuel line, posing a fire hazard to the rider.”
2. Polaris Recalls Model Year 2019 to 2020 Ranger XP 1000 Off-Road Vehicles. According to the CPSC, “[t]he fuel line can be misrouted above the bracket that protects the fuel line from a clutch belt failure, posing a fire hazard to consumers.”