Well, I'm really not too impressed with this machine's build quality. I feel the performance and features for the money are outstanding though.

Quality Problems

1)Slowly loses antifreeze and dealer refuses to do anything about it, period.

2)Electrical gremlins, the dash indicator lights work occassionally, sometimes they flicker...dealer looked at it and is mystified

3) Auto-choke not too automatic, hates cold weather, always screwing with it to get it to idle up here in the winter

4) Starter connections had to be fixed by dealer, machine just would buzz or not make any attempt, guess it was electrical, dealer seems to have nailed this down after pull starting the thing about 20 times before I could bring it in...

5) rattles a bit, just feels "loose" frankly compared to when new

6) mine doesnt like water at all, took a dunking once and that was it, cost me $600 at the dealer to get it cleaned out, mostly my fault but the machine just doesnt drain on it's own

7) Rear Brakes= Garbage


Sorry folks, I went into this with an open mind as a previous honda owner. I still like the machine's performance, although the 4wd unit doesn't grab like a Polaris that's for sure...

Regards,
Bryan

 

Sorry you have run into so many problems. Doesn't sound typical except about the rear brakes. You're right there, they're definitely garbage.

 

Sorry about your bad luck with your Kodiak.I have not had any major problems with my 2000,even the rear brakes are still holding up after 5 months,which is pretty good from what I have heard.I know it is an (ATV) but it's not a tank,and I don't bury it in 5 feet of water either.After all it still is a man made machine and there will be problems,and i'm sure every company (Honda,Suzuki,ect)has there faults as well.Your might have got a lemon,because those don't sound like typical problems with this machine.If I wanted that kind of atv I would have bought a Hummer or a boat.Well I hope you have better luck in the future with your Kodiak.I think Yamaha did a fine job,but there is always room for improvment with any machine.


Java
2000 Kodiak

 

I've got over 1400 km(fairly abusive kms I'll add) on mine and have had no problems at all, just the rear brake pads that died at 600 km, now I have EBC pads and they seem ok. My choke works perfectly in the cold, and it's damn cold here in N.B., Canada. Everything still feels nice and tight, coulden't have got a better bike.

by the way, you sound suprized it doesn't grip like a polaris, surly you knew when you bought it that it wasn't all wheel drive. What do you expect? Get better tires.

 

Javahere,

What? You don't take it in 5 feet of water? I hear ya about the Hummer. That was my first choice, but couldn't afford one of them so had to settle for an atv to tear up. ;-)

 

No problems here either other than rear brake pad ($28.00) at 700 hard miles and a light bulb. I've had mine w/water-mud to seat and no problems. The antifreeze level was on the low side from the dealer so I've added like 1 oz. since I've had it. The bike is as tight as the day I bought it and is ridden hard and frequently. The choke does stick a little in extreme cold, so I don't pull it out all the way since half way does the job. Most all bikes have their quirks, as my last new Honda Recon did. It vibrated a lot and threw bolts and wouldn't hardly start in cold weather. They don't have the bite in mud like a Polaris...true, but give me a Kodiak going up and down these STEEP mountains any day because of the true engine brake and lower center of gravity. Around here, you can go around a mudhole but you can't go around a mountain.

 

Sounds like my Kodiak and yours was built by the same idiot, same day on the same assembly line.
Mine makes a buzzing noise when trying to cold start it. (I'd like to know what your dealer did to fix yours, since mine is 3months out of warranty).
My rear brake pads were GONE after 6months.
The crappy Dunlop's thin sidewalls have two patches in them.
Mine is dripping antifreeze from the water pump housing where it goes into the engine block. I'm hoping just a O-Ring or gasket will stop it.
My front "hood" buzzes when riding, but, I can live with that.
No problem with the choke, because it is MANUAL, not an automatic choke.
I knew that it had a limited slip front end, but, has yet to get me stuck!
I've dunked the front end into water/mud up to the headlights, and it just pulled it's way through it with no problems.
I've used the Warn winch 3 times. But, not for me, for one POLARIS Scrambler500, a POLARIS trailblazer, and a Honda300. (I don't really like the Polaris 4wd setup, it's only engaged AFTER it detects wheel spin, and then all tires start pulling, upsetting your steering line (not comforting on a narrow, steep, uphill). I think the new Praire650 will have the ultimate 4wd setup.
So, I've got mixed feelings about my Kodiak. I'll probably hang onto it, unless the Praire 650, or Grizzly 660 really turns out to be a "gotta have" machine.

 

Look out for the disappearing Anti-freeze. If it aint leaking to the ground it is going in the engine. Make sure your oil level is not getting high or contaminated.
Water. If it was shallow you may have a loose duct clamp.

 

I noticed mine was dripping anitfreeze also from the water pump housing. I'm bringing it to my dealer in Lafayette, Louisiana on Monday. I will update ya'll on the situation.
Other than that my only complaint is the air filter design.

 

Watch out for the leaking antifreeze...I noticed mine was slowly getting lower and lower, and eventually it just started spewing out from underneath the floorboards...This is a defective seal and it usually goes out from riding in a lot of deep water. Mine started after I went through water that was 3-4 feet deep. The dealer had to install new seal for the water pump.