CPSC, Warn Industries Inc. Announce Recall of ATV Winch Kits

Washington, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Warn Industries Inc., of Oregon, is voluntarily recalling 50,000 winch kits, which attach to All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and are used as a vehicle recovery tool. An electrical component of the winch kit, the solenoid, poses a fire hazard when used in this application, even when the vehicle is parked and the winch is not in use. The solenoid was manufactured by White-Rodgers.

Warn Industries has received five reports of ATV fires started from winch kits installed on these vehicles in the U.S., and four reports of ATV fires in Canada. One consumer reportedly suffered smoke inhalation as a result of one of these fires. The fires resulted in loss or damage to the ATVs and, in some cases, adjacent vehicles or surrounding structures.

The A2000 winch kit is normally mounted directly to the ATV. To control the winch direction, the A2000 uses a round switch that mounts to the rack or handlebars of the ATV. The winch is gray and has a "Warn" logo on the body of the winch below the model number, "A2000." The A2000 winch kit includes a solenoid, which is used to interrupt the power to the winch. "White-Rodgers" is written on the label of the solenoid. The solenoid is found attached to the power wire between the battery and the switch. The bracket used to attach the affected solenoid has one open slot and one hole.

ATV dealers and specialty retailers nationwide and mail order catalogs sold these ATV winch kits from November 2000 through May 2001 for about $400.
 

Consumers should immediately disconnect the solenoid wires from their ATV and call their local ATV dealer or Warn Industries to receive the free replacement solenoid and installation instructions. Consumers can call Warn Industries at (877) 277-0539 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday; e-mail the firm at cs@warn.com; or visit their web site at www.warn.com.

This recall does not include the Warn ATV winch kits with Camdec solenoids, used prior to the White-Rodgers solenoid.

Consumers should immediately disconnect the solenoid wires from their ATV and call their local ATV dealer or Warn Industries to receive the free replacement solenoid and installation instructions. 

Warn Industries has received five reports of ATV fires started from winch kits installed on these vehicles in the U.S., and four reports of ATV fires in Canada. One consumer reportedly suffered smoke inhalation as a result of one of these fires. The fires resulted in loss or damage to the ATVs and, in some cases, adjacent vehicles or surrounding structures.