Polaris' new Ranger Kinetic all-electric UTVs are something I've been paying close attention to since their launch, as I believe they hold the key to revolutionizing a few industries I love. Chief among them, hunting, where silence and stealthiness are paramount, and those are the chief attributes of anything electric.
I know the good folks at Maui Nui Venison loved theirs for those abilities, specifically for their night operations.
But as with everything that's new and innovative, there are always going to be bumps in the road. Well, maybe not really a bump as much as the risk for fire. And that's unfortunately the case with Polaris, as the company recently issued a recall for the Ranger XP Kinetic and Pro XD Kinetic because a part can break and cause the whole thing to set ablaze.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Polaris is issuing a recall for the model years 2023 to 2024 Ranger XP Kinetic and model year 2025 for the Ranger Pro XD Kinetic side-by-sides as "Water can leak through a cracked filter into the ROV’s high-voltage charging harness components and cause a short circuit, posing a fire hazard." The recall also states that while no injuries have been reported, the issue has seen "47 reports of filter failures with the recalled [UTVs], including six reports of melting/fire and four reports of sparking/smoke."
4,900 Ranger Kinetics sold between April of 2023 through March of 2025 are said to be affected by this recall, with consumers being asked to contact their local Polaris dealership to schedule a free repair of the part. Likewise, Polaris will be reaching out to consumers if they haven't already talked with their dealership.
Furthermore, Polaris is also recalling some of the Ranger Kinetic's accessories, including the "accessory charger service parts/kits with part numbers 2417296, 2417297, 2889704 and 2889486."
Despite all this, I'm still bullish on EV in the outdoor space, especially for those taking us all into the backcountry and getting out and exploring our public lands. If you want to know more about this specific recall, though, you can contact Polaris "toll-free at 800-765-2747 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, online at www.polaris.com and click on “Product Safety News” located under the “Safety” column at the bottom of the page, or https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road-recalls/ to check if your vehicle identification number (VIN) is included in any recalls. Consumers can contact Polaris’ owner connections team at Owner.Connections@polaris.com or via an online forum accessible at https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/owner-resources/help-center/email."
