Yamaha's Rhino, an all terrain vehicle (ATV) which is marketed for use in rugged terrain, around a ranch or on flatland, has caused numerous injuries and death since it came on the market in 2003. So, why hasn't it been recalled?

That's what consumer groups and owners of the Rhino would like to know. The Rhino, which comes in three different engine sizes – a 450, 660 and 700 – did not come equipped with important safety features such as doors or handles to keep its occupants inside the vehicle during accidents. And there have been many accidents associated with the Rhino. The vehicle has a very narrow wheel base and a high center of gravity, so rollovers are common – even at low speeds. Due to these hazards, consumer groups say that the Rhino should have been recalled a long time ago to address these design defects.

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However, manufacturers don't particularly like recalls. They're expensive, complicated and cause consumers to doubt not only the product, but the manufacturer as well. Yamaha doesn't seem to be an exception. While it never "officially" recalled the Rhino, it did offer to provide owners with safety equipment such as doors and handles free of charge to keep occupants inside.

Although Yamaha thought that was "good enough", consumer groups disagree because without an official recall, many owners never knew about the offer. In March 2008, Yamaha did finally issue an official recal of the Rhino, but only due to problems with a brake caliper that causes brake fluid to leak. If you've had an accident while being an occupant in the Rhino, click here to contact a Yamaha Rhino attorney at AttorneyPages.com.