It appears we have become an added statistic to an ever growing group that is experiencing catastrophic XP motor failure due to a "Starter Area Failure" occurring in the 2011-2012 XP 900
Facing a $3k motor rebuild and having been subjected to a Polaris CS rep who in the span of our 20 minute call reiterated to me 11 times my XP was out of the warrantee period, (she was very nice but kept reading the same thing from the queue card
I have done some research and as is normally the case have learned some very important things:
1. Failure does not seem to be either behavior or environment dependent. Failures from Big bore motors to stock 900 motors apparently have been catalogued. We understand this condition has effected Racers to Sunday drivers.
2. This condition does not appear to be hour or mileage dependent but rather influenced by starting frequency possibly?? My car has 87 hours and 1547 miles.
At his weekends WORCS race we spoke with no less than 3 XP owners who strangely had experienced the very same type of failure on their 2011-2012 XP units...........coincidence?
3. Starter pin, bearing and accompanying ensemble go south resulting in mild to moderate motor damage, with most damage considered significant requiring case replacement due to hallowed, broken or bent pin and subsequent gear fracturing upon shifting. (Interestingly we heard a dealer had this failure of a new unit some time back based on in/outs of the unit from showroom to outside
)))
4. Supposedly there are now significant enough units with this condition that extended warrantees premiums may be going north quickly or said condition may become an exclusion on units resold.
5. Polaris redesign for 2013 motor and resulting changes interestingly enough appear to have systemically changed the area(s) that appears to correspond with our issue. We do recognize that OEM's endeavor to refresh their products occasionally to satisfy consumer feedback but major mechanical overhauls tend to be engineering expensive and are usually reserved for Major Model redesigns or launches.
6. Repair involves replacement of OEM parts but no technical improvements to safeguard from future or further issue not occurring again.......
In spite of my call and conversation with the PCR we have had our car diagnosed at a local Polaris dealer and asked they submit a "fitness for use" claim to Polaris for what we believe is a failure associated with an inherent design flaw that has the potential to impact all 2011-2012 XP motors, but is intermittent in effect.
Based on my call, some of what we have read and learned in the last few weeks, and this past spring the loss of our Polaris dealer (really small shop who couldn't survive the "push" inventory games Polaris forces on their dealers) leaves me with little to fading hope of securing traction from Polaris or getting them to acknowledge this is an issue and have some type of help/relief/fix program for owners.
We are following the Polaris designed process by asking our local dealership to submit some sort of on-line claim request to Polaris direct, but at this point have nothing concrete beyond that. Less the $3k estimate for repair.
We do recognize that even well engineered systems will have imperfections but am struggling with what seems to be a fairly prevalent issue or at least well known to so many......
We are holding out hope that Polaris will review this issue and weigh in and offer some help, or that others may be willing to share how they possibly were able to address this issue to some degree of mutual satisfaction with Polaris?
Any experience with this same type of matter, insight or information that anyone has and would be willing to share we would be grateful for. To date we are not aware of any mechanical patch or safeguard, but given the resourcefulness of the Off Road community if you have and would share I am all ears.
Regards
Steve Nottoli
11 Polaris snow machines
2008 RZR 800
2010 RZR 800 LE
2011 RZR XP 900
Facing a $3k motor rebuild and having been subjected to a Polaris CS rep who in the span of our 20 minute call reiterated to me 11 times my XP was out of the warrantee period, (she was very nice but kept reading the same thing from the queue card
I have done some research and as is normally the case have learned some very important things:1. Failure does not seem to be either behavior or environment dependent. Failures from Big bore motors to stock 900 motors apparently have been catalogued. We understand this condition has effected Racers to Sunday drivers.
2. This condition does not appear to be hour or mileage dependent but rather influenced by starting frequency possibly?? My car has 87 hours and 1547 miles.
At his weekends WORCS race we spoke with no less than 3 XP owners who strangely had experienced the very same type of failure on their 2011-2012 XP units...........coincidence?
3. Starter pin, bearing and accompanying ensemble go south resulting in mild to moderate motor damage, with most damage considered significant requiring case replacement due to hallowed, broken or bent pin and subsequent gear fracturing upon shifting. (Interestingly we heard a dealer had this failure of a new unit some time back based on in/outs of the unit from showroom to outside
4. Supposedly there are now significant enough units with this condition that extended warrantees premiums may be going north quickly or said condition may become an exclusion on units resold.
5. Polaris redesign for 2013 motor and resulting changes interestingly enough appear to have systemically changed the area(s) that appears to correspond with our issue. We do recognize that OEM's endeavor to refresh their products occasionally to satisfy consumer feedback but major mechanical overhauls tend to be engineering expensive and are usually reserved for Major Model redesigns or launches.
6. Repair involves replacement of OEM parts but no technical improvements to safeguard from future or further issue not occurring again.......
In spite of my call and conversation with the PCR we have had our car diagnosed at a local Polaris dealer and asked they submit a "fitness for use" claim to Polaris for what we believe is a failure associated with an inherent design flaw that has the potential to impact all 2011-2012 XP motors, but is intermittent in effect.
Based on my call, some of what we have read and learned in the last few weeks, and this past spring the loss of our Polaris dealer (really small shop who couldn't survive the "push" inventory games Polaris forces on their dealers) leaves me with little to fading hope of securing traction from Polaris or getting them to acknowledge this is an issue and have some type of help/relief/fix program for owners.
We are following the Polaris designed process by asking our local dealership to submit some sort of on-line claim request to Polaris direct, but at this point have nothing concrete beyond that. Less the $3k estimate for repair.
We do recognize that even well engineered systems will have imperfections but am struggling with what seems to be a fairly prevalent issue or at least well known to so many......
We are holding out hope that Polaris will review this issue and weigh in and offer some help, or that others may be willing to share how they possibly were able to address this issue to some degree of mutual satisfaction with Polaris?
Any experience with this same type of matter, insight or information that anyone has and would be willing to share we would be grateful for. To date we are not aware of any mechanical patch or safeguard, but given the resourcefulness of the Off Road community if you have and would share I am all ears.
Regards
Steve Nottoli
11 Polaris snow machines
2008 RZR 800
2010 RZR 800 LE
2011 RZR XP 900
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