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Meerkat 50 Youth ATVs are defective and dangerous
Filed under: Big Kids, Tweens, Teens, Health & Safety: Babies
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has declared that the Kazuma Meerkat 50 Youth All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) has multiple safety defects and that children who operate it are at risk of injury or death.
The CPSC says that these ATV's don't have front brakes or parking brakes, are missing a neutral indicator light and can be started while in gear. Plus, the owner's manual doesn't contain information on how to safely operate and maintain the vehicle.
The ATV's aren't being recalled, but CPCS recommends that consumer's stop using them and demand a refund for the purchase. ATV's come with inherent risks, but because the Meerkat 50 is intended for use by children ages 6 to 11, the risk is considered higher. According to CPSC, kids who are just learning to operate an ATV don't have enough experience to avoid the hazards of this one.
CPSC says that Kazuma Pacific, the manufacturer of this ATV, has refused to provide incident or injury information and has impeded efforts to correct the defects. At least 2,700 of these ATV's have been sold since 2003 and the product is still available with the defects. CPSC requests that any incidents involving the vehicles be reported to them at (800) 638-2772 or on their website.
Call me overprotective, but ATV's for six year olds? No, thanks.
The CPSC says that these ATV's don't have front brakes or parking brakes, are missing a neutral indicator light and can be started while in gear. Plus, the owner's manual doesn't contain information on how to safely operate and maintain the vehicle.
The ATV's aren't being recalled, but CPCS recommends that consumer's stop using them and demand a refund for the purchase. ATV's come with inherent risks, but because the Meerkat 50 is intended for use by children ages 6 to 11, the risk is considered higher. According to CPSC, kids who are just learning to operate an ATV don't have enough experience to avoid the hazards of this one.
CPSC says that Kazuma Pacific, the manufacturer of this ATV, has refused to provide incident or injury information and has impeded efforts to correct the defects. At least 2,700 of these ATV's have been sold since 2003 and the product is still available with the defects. CPSC requests that any incidents involving the vehicles be reported to them at (800) 638-2772 or on their website.
Call me overprotective, but ATV's for six year olds? No, thanks.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
6-05-2007 @ 4:36PM
Uncle Roger said...It seems the company is being antagonistic to the CPSC -- they won't even release the number of injuries kids have sustained while riding these.
Jared has one -- one of the battery powered ones designed to be ridden around your yard. Neither he nor Sara have ever had any problems with it, although they just ride it up and down the back alley.
If I had the money for real ones and a place to use them, I would consider it, but we would stick to established trails. Mostly, though, I'd just as soon go for a hike.
Reply
6-05-2007 @ 4:50PM
Nancy Toby said...Uhhhhh.... are there any ATVs that ARE NOT dangerous??
Reply
6-06-2007 @ 8:59AM
blackbird said...I sat on one of these the other day, while waiting for our scooter in the repair shop.
It was HUGE.
(And it was the one you describe.)
I can't imagine a 6 - 11 year old controlling it under any circumstances!
I'm not sure I would be able to control it (though I know some 11 year olds who are bigger than me).
Reply
6-17-2007 @ 6:58PM
ATV Dealer said...I agree with CPSC concerning the Kazuma Meerkat 50 being poorly built and dangerous. However as bad as the Kazuma is, I can think of about 6-7 other Chinese brands that the CPSC should have gone after before Kazuma. Brands such as Fushin, BMX, SUNL, Buyang, BTM, Eagle, Baja, etc. are built way, way more poorly and alot more dangerous than the Kazuma. I have a repair shop in Dallas TX and I see these cheap Chinese ATV's all the time. For example SUNL and BMX (who sells a lot more mini ATVs for kids than Kazuma), has axles and frames that break, very dangerous. I would hope that the CPSC also looks at these other Chinese import ATVs.
Reply
6-15-2007 @ 3:30PM
bill said...first let me say that blackbird mistaken if he thinks he sat on a meerkat and they're huge, the meerkat the smallest of all atv's made, the meerkat is well made atv compare to others such as sunl, we purchased 2 meerkats in 04 for our 2 grandkids ages 4 and 5, they were great beginner atv's for this age and they rode the hell out of them for 2 years until they just plan outgrew them, kazuma claims they haven't received any reports of injury cause by the meerkat.
Reply
7-24-2007 @ 3:17PM
ricklucente sr said...bought one 50 for my grandson did not realize that they would start in gear or you could not tell when it was in neutral or in gear this is very unsafe.
Reply