Here is an email I sent to Polaris:

Hello Polaris I recently bought a Sportsman 500 2000 model I have noticed you have made changes to this bike, My bike was purchased on 3-6-00 after purchasing my bike I noticed it was made 8-99 I think it is really unfair after spending this much money on a vehicle that the bike is almost 7 months old and does not have some of the stuff that the later production bikes have, I do have the newer tie rod ends but that is it, are you going to make these parts free for an upgrade to your customers especially the newer clutch cover. I really think when I bought my bike I should have not been sold a bike that was not more than 3 months old when it was made.

I am also experiencing a moisture build up in the speedometer at the bottom of it...I along with many other owners on the internet forum are experiencing this trouble, with this being a very delicate part of the atv I think there should be some kind of recall on this, cause the moisture can do nothing but cause corrosing on the inside of the speedometer, keep in mind this letter will be posted on the various forums for all other customers of polaris to see...I in no way mean this as a threat but as we are the ones who keep you in business I think you should do every available means to take care of our problems. I will be posting this letter and the answer to it on the various forums. Other than these problems all the owners I have talked to on the forums, which is about 60% of your buyers are very satisfied with the bikes you make, we all feel we have the ultimate machine with biggest edge in technology with the 4 wheel drive system, disc brakes, water cooling, and other great things that Polaris has provided, I hope you answer this letter favorably cause we all want to continue to be loyal Polaris customers.

I will be posting the answer soon as I hear something...

 

Good Luck Atving....Polaris responded last year to many of us who were having problems with throttle cables freezeing up....Their response was that the machine was not meant to be operated when it was cold...Kinda Lame.

Todd Snyder (1999 400 Xplorer)

 

I hope your reply is better than the one I got from Kawasaki.
I had an engine running problem with mine from day one.. I took it back to the dealer 4 times.. in desperation, I wrote the company. Thinking they would take some kind of action, send out a field service rep or something.

Guess what. The reply was basically.. We don't sale the service (warranty repairs) and are not responsible for getting it repairs correctly, you need to take up the issue with your local dealer. At that point, I called the manufacture. I re read the letters to them.. then asked.. So basiclly you don't really have warranties on them. They were doing the ole studdering backstroke reply. They knew the letter they sent me could be used in court to sue them, but It wasn't worth the hassle to me. Maybe my calling will help future owners... As for my problem? I fixed it myself.

I will not purchase or support in writings or verbal conversation Kawasaki as a strong supporting manufacture.

 

I can understand your frustration with Polaris Industries inability to assist the customer. I have the 5 month old 500 SP, still has fogged over speedo, intermittent front left wheel engagement. I have contacted Polaris Industries, never received a callback except for a talk with the Canadian rep in Winnipeg. Still got the "its your own fault" clause. Starting to wonder if they ship these quads out on a profit first, warranty last basis. What is going on with this racket anyways? I am not a gambler, but I guess I gambled when I set foor on a dealers floor and picked out a load of frustration.

 

SWAC1,

Who did you talk to in Winnepeg??


Glenn.

 

That's right, I remember they told us to read the warning sticker on the right front fender. And...TAKE IT TO THE DEALER!

The customer relations department at Polaris is a little weak, however, owning an Arctic Cat Pantera snowmobile, I can safely say that they are no worse than Arctic Cat.

 

The rumor that I heard was that they were devoting so much warranty "goodwill" to the Victory Motorcycle division that they tightening up in the other divisions.

Polaris is also warranting their snowmobile motors for two years. HMMMMM!

I hope that you get a favorable reply. Whatever it is, " Quote it " here in the thread.

 

Polaris had to warranty their sleds for 2 yrs, because Yamaha warrantys their sleds for three yrs. Polaris is trying to stay competitive.

 

I can understand complaining about the speedo problems or somthing, but not the date it was manufactured. It was still new, and still a '00 model, correct? Polaris makes lots of mid-year changes, and comes out with bikes months before the actual year.

I bought my '99 Scrambler, and now notice some newer '99s have some things changed that I might like better. I don't expect Polaris send me the parts. I think you are making this a bigger deal than it is. No offense, I would like new parts too, but this is a common thing among manufactures and not just Polaris or ATV's specificaly.

 

Yes I guess quad_man you are right it is not such a big deal...but you can't blame a man for trying. About the only thing I would like is one of the new clutch covers this has always been a problem for polaris, I asked the dealer why they didn't make an aluminum clutch cover and he said the plastic dissipated heat better...personally I think it is one of the marketing tricks of Honda to save on money...I did at least get the new tie rod ends and that is what I was worried about getting on my new bike...gee I hope some of the Honda riders read this so they will find out that Polaris is not perfect.