On March 2020, Kawasaki USA issued a recall for the Kawasaki MULE PRO off-highway utility vehicles. According to the recall, number 20-727, debris can ignite on the utility vehicle’s exhaust manifold; in addition, frozen water can block the breather hose and result in an oil leak, which also poses a fire risk. The recall has affected approximately 72,000 units of the off-road utility vehicles.
The recall specifically involves utility vehicles ranging from model year 2015 to 2020, including the MULE PRO-FX, MULE PRO-FXR, and MULE PRO-FXT. These products were in a variety of colors including blue, black, bronze, camo, red, green, silver, and white. The products have four wheels, automotive style controls, and side-by-side seating for three to six people. The vehicle’ identification number (VIN) is located on the steel frame between the right-front lower A-arm mounts. Kawasaki is printed on the vehicles’ cargo box.
The vehicles involved in the recall can be identified by the following information:
- 2015 Model Year
- MULE PRO-FXT with model code KAF280FF/L and vin range JKBAFSA1XFB500031 through JKBAFSA18FB500335
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS with model code KAF820BFF/L and vin range JKBAFSB13FB500001 through JKBAFSB11FB504158
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS LE with model code KAF820CFF/L and vin range JKBAFSC17FB500002 through JKBAFSC17FB504387
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS CAMO with model code KAF820DFF/L and vin range JKBAFSD17FB500001 through JKBAFSD17FB502198
- 2016 Model Year
- MULE PRO-FXT with model code KAF820AGF/L and vin range JKBAFSA1XGB500001 through JKBAFSA19GB500250
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS with model code KAF820BGF/L and vin range JKBAFSB10GB504816 through JKBAFSB13GB507371
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS LE with model code KAF820CGF/L and vin range JKBAFSC18GB504951 through JKBAFSC16GB507010
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS CAMO with model code KAF820DGF/L and vin range JKBAFSD19GB502611 through JKBAFSD16GB503585
- MULE PRO-FX with model code KAF820EGF/L and vin range JKBAFSE17GB500001 through JKBAFSE16GB500541
- MULE PRO-FX EPS with model code KAF820FGF/L and vin range JKBAFSF19GB500001 through JKBAFSF14GB502450
- MULE PRO-FX EPS LE with model code KAF820GGF/L and vin range JKBAFSG10GB500001 through JKBAFSG13GB501918
- MULE PRO-FX EPS CAMO with model code KAF820HGF/L and vin range JKBAFSH12GB500001 through JKBAFSH17GB500950
- MULE PRO-FXT RANCH EDITION with model code KAF820JGF/L and vin range JKBAFSJ1XGB500001 through JKBAFSJ1XGB501830
- 2017 Model Year
- MULE PRO-FXT with model code KAF820AHF/L and vin range JKBAFSA18HB500001 through JKBAFSA12HB500821
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS with model code KAF820BHF/L and vin range JKBAFSB1XHB500001 through JKBAFSB10HB510083
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS LE with model code KAF820CHF/L and vin range JKBAFSC11HB500001 through JKBAFSC10HB509367
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS CAMO with model code KAF820DHF/L and vin range JKBAFSD13HB500001 through JKBAFSD19HB504909
- MULE PRO-FX with model code KAF820EHF/L and vin range JKBAFSE15HB500001 through JKBAFSE12HB501140
- MULE PRO-FX EPS with model code KAF820FHF/L and vin range JKBAFSF17HB500001 through JKBAFSF18HB504056
- MULE PRO-FX EPS LE with model code KAF820GHF/L and vin range JKBAFSG15HB502201 through JKBAFSG1XHB502890
- MULE PRO-FX EPS CAMO with model code KAF820HHF/L and vin range JKBAFSH16HB501301 through JKBAFSH11HB501450
- MULE PRO-FXT RANCH EDITION with model code KAF820JHF/L and vin range JKBAFSJ18HB500001 through JKBAFSJ16HB504483
- MULE PRO-FX RANCH EDITION with model code KAF820LHF/L and vin range JKBAFSL11HB500001 trough JKBAFSL11HB500550
- 2018 Model Year
- MULE PRO-FXT with model code KAF820AJF/L and vin range JKBAFSA15JB501001 through JKBAFSA13JB501370
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS with model code KAF820BJF/L and vin range JKBAFSB15JB510201 through JKBAFSB12JB513038
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS LE with model code KAF820CJF/L and vin range JKBAFSC10JB509651 through JKBAFSC10JB512209
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS CAMO with model code KAF820DJF/L and vin range JKBAFSD16JB505151 through JKBAFSD19JB506231
- MULE PRO-FX with model code KAF820EJF/L and vin range JKBAFSE17JB501401 through JKBAFSE16JB501695
- MULE PRO-FX EPS with model code KAF820FJF/L and vin range JKBAFSF19JB504301 through JKBAFSF16JB505745
- MULE PRO-FX EPS LE with model code KAF820GJF/L and vin range JKBAFSG19JB503101 through JKBAFSG11JB503870
- MULE PRO-FXT RANCH EDITION with model code KAF820JJF/L and vin range JKBAFSJ18JB504801 through JKBAFSJ18JB508072
- MULE PRO-FXR with model code KAF820KJF/L and vin range JKBAFSK12JB500001 through JKBAFSK13JB503649
- 2019 Model Year
- MULE PRO-FXT with model code KAF820AKF/L and vin range JKBAFSA11KB501501 through JKBAFSA11KB501935
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS with model code KAF820BKF/L and vin range JKBAFSB17KB513201 through JKBAFSB17KB516146
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS LE with model code KAF820CKF/L and vin range JKBAFSC11KB512401 through JKBAFSC1XKB514907
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS CAMO with model code KAF820DKF/L and vin range JKBAFSD16KB506401 through JKBAFSD11KB507519
- MULE PRO-FX with model code KAF820EKF/L and vin range JKBAFSD16KB506401 through JKBAFSD11KB507519
- MULE PRO-FX EPS with model code KAF820FKF/L and vin range JKBAFSF13KB505901 through JKBAFSF13KB507521
- MULE PRO-FX EPS LE with model code KAF820GKF/L and vin range JKBAFSG18KB504001 through JKBAFSG1XKB504758
- MULE PRO-FXT RANCH EDITION with model code KAF820JKF/L and vin range JKBAFSJ12KB508201 through JKBAFSJ13KB512077
- MULE PRO-FXR with model code KAF820KKF/L and vin range JKBAFSK13KB503801 through JKBAFSK1XKB505089
- 2020 Model Year
- MULE PRO-FXT with model code KAF820ALF/L and vin range JKBAFSA1XLB502101 through JKBAFSA19LB502378
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS with model code KAF820BLF/L and vin range JKBAFSB1XLB516501 through JKBAFSB19LB518305
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS LE with model code KAF820CLF/L and vin range JKBAFSC1XLB515301 through JKBAFSC1XLB516657
- MULE PRO-FXT EPS CAMO with model code KAF820DLD/L and vin range JKBAFSD1XLB507701 through JKBAFSD1XLB508184
- MULE PRO-FX with model code KAF820ELF/L and vin range JKBAFSE18LB502401 through JKBAFSE19LB502598
- MULE PRO-FX EPS with model code KAF820FLF/L and vin range JKBAFSF18LB507919 through JKBAFSF1XLB509199
- MULE PRO-FX EPS LE with model code KAF820GLF/L and vin range JKBAFSG18LB505201 through JKBAFSG12LB505744
- MULE PRO-FXT RANCH EDITION with model code KAF820JLF/L and vin range JKBAFSJ1XLB512501 through JKBAFSJ17LB514237
- MULE PRO-FXR with model code KAF820KLF/L and vin range JKBAFSK13LB507901 through JKBAFSK18LB508784
- MULE PRO-FXT RANCH EDITION with model code KAF82OMLF/L and vin range JKBAFSM12LB500001 through JKBAFSM16LB501023
The defective Kawasaki utility vehicles were available from July 2014 through December 2019 at Kawasaki dealers around the country; the vehicles ranged in price from $12,000 to $18,000.
According to the recall, there have been at least 165 reports of oil leaks as well as 84 reports of the vehicles catching fire. At least three injuries have been reported, including one report of burns and one report of smoke inhalation injuries. According to Kawasaki, they are aware of more than $131,000 in property damage associated with the defective vehicles, not including the damage to the vehicles.
Kawasaki USA is urging all affected consumers to stop using the defective utility vehicles and contact them for a free repair. Known purchasers are being contacted directly by the company. Should you settle for a free repair? If you were simply inconvenienced by the recall, agreeing to a free repair makes perfect sense. But what if you were significantly affected? What if you or your family sustained injuries or property damage? If you or a member of your family suffered any type of harm associated with the defective product, you might have grounds to sue. That is, you should explore the possibility of pursuing a product liability claim against Kawasaki USA or any other company that negligently contributed to the harm that you or your family suffered.
For more information about your right to sue, you should seek legal assistance with our experts immediately. The lawyers at Normandie Law Firm are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to hold the liable company accountable for the harm that they negligently caused. If you are interested in discussing your claim with our product liability lawyers, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.
The Dangers Associated with the Defective Product
As mentioned above, the defective product represents a significant risk to consumers. Consumers could suffer burns, smoke-inhalation injuries, and could also experience extensive property damage. Depending on the incident, the harm suffered could be life changing. Burns, for instance, could result in permanent scarring, loss of mobility, loss of function (of affected limbs), nerve damage, muscle damage, and even chronic pain. Smoke inhalation injuries could result in dangerous internal injuries (such as internal burns to the respiratory system) and oxygen deprivation (which could lead to loss of consciousness, brain damage, and death. Property damage can also be devastating. Regardless of the harm that resulted from the defective product, you and your family might have grounds to hold the liable company accountable.
Understanding Product Liability
If you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with a defective product, it is important that you know that you might have grounds to sue based on the concept of product liability. What is product liability, and how does it affect you’re your right to file a claim? Product liability is based on the concept of negligence, which consists of a duty of care, a breach of duty, cause, and harm. In terms of product liability, the following must be present:
- A company owed you a duty of care (i.e. the company had a duty to ensure that their products were safe for consumers to use)
- A company breached their duty of care (i.e. the company failed to ensure that their products were safe for consumers to use)
- The breach of duty resulted in an incident (i.e. the defective products available to consumers ignited or had oil leaks)
- The consumer suffered harm (i.e. the harm suffered was directly associated with a defective product)
Whenever a defect (whether it is a defect in design, manufacturing, or labeling) that is present in a product leads to the harm that a consumer suffered, the company could be liable based on product liability. This means that consumers could sue Kawasaki USA or any other companies that negligently contribute to harm. If you would like to learn more about product liability and your right to sue, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience.
You Could Sue and Recover Compensation
As explained above, you might have grounds to sue on the basis of product liability. Depending on the details surrounding your claim, you might even be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the damages associated with the defective product. The type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to recover will always be case-specific; therefore, it is important to discuss with an experienced attorney to learn more about the compensation that might be available for your claim.
Some of the compensation that could be available for your claim includes the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Survivor’s benefits
- Punitive damages
For more information about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive if your product liability claim is successful, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your lawsuit against Kawasaki USA.
The Steps You Should Take
All consumers should have a general understanding of the steps that they should follow after being harmed by a defective product. Taking the appropriate action can facilitate the legal process. What should you do if you or a member of your family was harmed by a defective product? Consider the following steps listed below:
- Seek medical attention immediately even if injuries do not seem severe
- Take photos of all visible injuries
- Take photos of the defective product
- Take photos of any property damage
- Evaluate the extent of the property damage
- Contact the company to report the defect and the incident/injuries suffered
- Do not agree to a free repair, free replacement, free return, or a refund
- Do not tamper with the product in any way, leave it as-is
- Speak to witnesses if any were present at the time of the incident
- Gather any surveillance footage that might have captured the incident
- Collect any documents related to the purchase of the defective product
- Gather medical records
- Gather records of property damage evaluations, costs, etc.
- Seek legal assistance with a product liability expert
The Time You Have to Sue
In California, product liability claims are typically subject to a two-year statute of limitations. This means that claimants only have two years to pursue their claims. If claimants fail to file their claims within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, they will lose their right to sue. Although certain exceptions could apply (based on the details surrounding the claim), claimants should always aim to file their claims as quickly as possible. If you would like to learn more about the deadline and any possible exceptions that might apply, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our product liability lawyers as soon as possible.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
At Normandie Law Firm, we are committed to remaining accessible to all. Therefore, our firm offers free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns; this allows our experts to provide you with all the information that you need to either start or continue your claim. If you are ready to benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.
Our firm also offers a Zero-Fee guarantee that ensures that our clients will never have to pay upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also based on contingency; therefore, claimants will not have to pay anything until after reaching a successful outcome.
Are you ready to discuss your product liability claim with our experts? Do not hesitate to contact Normandie Law Firm at your earliest convenience.
