NHTSA complaint: 2008 KTM 450 EXC R — SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY WIFE WAS RIDING MY CHILDREN'S ALTA MACH II ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE IN OUR YARD. SHE HAD MADE SEVERAL CIRCUITS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF OUR YARD AND DOWN OUR BLACKTOP DRIVEWAY WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. SHE WAS DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN ON THE ATV ON THE BLACKTOP, WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE MACHINE AND ROLLED AWAY. THE MACHINE PITCHED FORWARD AND THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE IMPACTED THE PAVEMENT. SINCE THIS TURN WAS BEING EXECUTED AT A SLOW ROLLING IDLE, SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE MACHINE FROM ROLLING BY PLACING HER FEET ON THE GROUND. THE AXLE OF THE MACHINE APPEARED SCORED, AND THE RECOVERED WHEEL HAD REMAINS OF THE BEARING INSIDE. THE BIKE HAD LESS THAN 10 MILES ON IT AND ROUGHLY ONLY 3 OPERATING HOURS. THE BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND NEVER MODIFIED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN MANSFIELD LA FROM A REPUTABLE CYCLE SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN ATV SALES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE BIKE WAS ASSEMBLE THERE OR BY THE MANUFACTURER. NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A CHILDREN'S MACHINE. FORTUNATELY DURING THIS INCIDENT, NONE OF MY CHILDREN WERE RIDING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER/MARKETER OF THIS PRODUCT, ETON AMERICA VIA THEIR WEB SITE. THEY PROVIDED A SHORT RESPONSE THAT INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO SPEAK TO ME BECAUSE THIS BIKE WAS PURCHASED BY MY FATHER-IN-LAW. THEY PROVIDED NOT INDICATION THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT. AGAIN, THIS IS A POINT OF CONCERN BECAUSE THIS IS A KIDS BIKE, NOT AN ADULT MACHINE. W
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation