Kawasaki Class Action: Mule UTVs a Fire Risk?

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Kawasaki over its 2024 Mule UTV models, alleging they have defective engines that pose a fire risk. The plaintiffs claim Kawasaki issued a warning but failed to provide a timely repair or adequate compensation.

Consumers Affected: U.S. customers who bought, leased, or own a 2024 Kawasaki Mule PRO-FX™, PRO-FXR™, or PRO-FXT™ 1000 Utility Task Vehicle (UTV).

Reason for Lawsuit: Allegations that Kawasaki sold defective UTVs with a fire risk, failed to provide a timely repair, and offered inadequate compensation to affected customers.

Court: The class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Kawasaki has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging some of its Mule UTVs have defective engines that pose a fire risk to consumers. 

Plaintiffs Bret Conway and Jennifer Rogers filed the class action complaint against Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (USA) Inc on July 1 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumers laws. 

According to the plaintiffs, both Mule drivers, the companies’ 2024 MULE PRO-FX™, PRO-FXR™, and PRO-FXT™ 1000 Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) have defective engines that pose a fire risk. 

Kawasaki's "Powerful" UTVs Now a Fire Hazard, Lawsuit Claims

Kawasaki promotes the Mule Pro-FX 1000 HD Edition as a “powerful, high-capacity,” three-passenger vehicle designed for demanding work. The UTVs feature a new 999cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke parallel-twin engine, promising high power, high torque, and increased top speed, the plaintiffs say.

Early advertising depicted ranchers and farmers using the UTVs, emphasizing their reliability and capability for tough jobs, the lawsuit states.

However, the plaintiffs allege that Kawasaki failed to deliver on these promises. 

In April 2024, Kawasaki notified buyers of the fire risk and issued a "Stop Use Notice" warning, instructing them not to drive the UTVs until an authorized repair was completed. Two months later, no repair or timeline for a repair has been provided, leaving owners with unusable vehicles, the lawsuit states.

Buyers Left Stranded with No Fix, No Refund, and No Replacement

The lawsuit also claims that Kawasaki has not offered any temporary alternative vehicles or adequate compensation, aside from a $500 credit for accessories.

The plaintiffs say the fire risk and Kawasaki's inaction significantly diminish the value and life of the UTVs, making them unfit for their intended use.

Conway and Rogers assert that had they known about the potential fire hazard, they would not have bought the 2024 Mule or would have paid substantially less for it. 

In the Kawasaki Mule UTV class action lawsuit, Conway and Rogers seek to represent a nationwide class of customers in the United States who bought, leased, or own one of the 2024 Mules. They are suing for violations of state consumer protection and warranty laws and are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs, and a jury trial. 

In 2020, the California Air Resources Board announced a settlement of $160,000 with Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. to resolve clean-air violations related to the sale of small off-road engines, typically used as replacements in lawn mowers and leaf blowers, in California.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Conway et al. v. Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. et al.
• Case Number: 8:24-cv-01452-FWS-JDE 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Laurence D. King, Matthew B. George, Blair E. Reed, Clarissa R. Olivares (Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP)
• Marc A. Wites and Thomas Rogers (Wites & Rogers)