SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20181106-C8A9D-1808709. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Honda 500 (4x4 side by side). Incident: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Honda model# 500 serial# to be populated by consumer before returning report Honda Cycle Center in Helena, MT the middle of October 2018 The consumers who are both in their 70's creating this report purchased a side by side 4 x 4 with an odometer reading of 34 miles mid October 2018. Odometer was @ 0 when purchased. The first time they used it was around the same purchase time, they said that it had an odor of (cosmoline overheating. (from coating around pipes, engine parts, etc. The second time they used it the odor was stronger and was more as if something was catching fire. Sometime during the last week in October 2018 they used the unit again and the husband checked it out more thoroughly when he began smelling this odor and found that dried grass and leaves were between the plastic panel between the bottom of the frame and the engine. He is stating that these dried leaves and grass could very easily catch fire then cause physical and property damage. There are no injuries being reporting. The caller did contact the manufacturer and advised them that there should be a screen there to keep this dried grass and leaves from gathering where they could catch fire, However the manufacturer only advised him that anything he did to change the unit would void any warranty. The manufacturer representative also stated that they could do nothing about this issue because they are in Japan. (See enclosed photos) We live in rural MT. Side by sides are very popular. They are used by ranchers, hunters and recreationalists on non paved roads. M