In 2003, Yamaha introduced the Rhino 660 – the company’s first Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicle – creating a new category of recreational vehicles. Since the Rhino’s inception, many other manufactures have released a version of recreational SxS vehicles and yet the Yamaha Rhino remains the most popular, best-selling SxS on the market and has been shown to be the best in its class with many industry and press awards to its credit.
To bring such a vehicle to the market took years and years of development. Thousands of hours of testing and evaluation were conducted to ensure the safety of the Rhino before it was ever released.
Since the product was introduced in 2003 it has seen phenomenal growth with very few incidents. Yamaha is deeply saddened if anyone gets hurt using one of our motorsports products, but the reality is that the Rhino has a proven track record as a safe, reliable off-road vehicle. More than 99 percent of owners have enjoyed the Rhino without reported incidents.
Recently, however, a few people have questioned whether the Rhino is safe because of misinformation that has been widely disseminated by plaintiff attorneys. This misinformation, and the law suits for which the advertisements are meant to solicit and support, are based on a very small percentage of users who have had incidents — almost entirely through the misuse of the product (not wearing helmets or seatbelts, not following age or size recommendations, or even operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs). Plaintiff attorneys have paid large sums of money in advertising on Web sites, on billboards, and on television targeting the Rhino and making outrageous claims. They have tried to taint its image, but they cannot argue with the facts.
This Web site is designed to provide you with the truth about Rhino. This is your best source for information that can help answer any questions you may have about the Rhino, the company, the 2009 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announcement (this was not a recall) and current litigation. We also outline the safety recommendations that Yamaha provides to each customer in the owners’ manuals and on-product warning labels.
Yamaha stands firmly behind the Rhino as a safe, reliable off-road vehicle, and we know that there are thousands of responsible riders across the country that use the Rhino every day safely and as intended. The inappropriate attacks by profit-seeking attorneys will damage the entire industry if we don’t stand up together. We thank our customers and fans for their support and welcome your feedback.
If you’re looking to purchase a Rhino and/or need more specific product information, please check out www.yamahaoutdoors.com.
*Please note: All images and/or video of the Rhino SxS vehicle featured on this site may have been taken prior to the March 31, 2009, voluntary repair program announcement.
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11.28.2011 – Defense Verdict in Yamaha Rhino Trial Involving Statute of Limitations
The Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 28, 2011, found in favor of Yamaha in a case involving a 2004 Yamaha Rhino 660. In Robles vs Yamaha, the court ruled that Arizona’s statute of limitations barred the plaintiff’s suit. The Superior Court’s decision means that courts in all 10 cases that have gone to trial found in favor of Yamaha.
Read the full press release
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11.15.2011 – Georgia Court of Appeals Reverses Trail Court Ruling Regarding Yamaha Rhino, Orders Judgement for Yamaha
The Court of Appeals of Georgia today unanimously reversed a trial court’s May 2010 decision in favor of plaintiffs and ordered judgment for Yamaha in McTaggart vs Yamaha, a case involving an accident on a Yamaha Rhino. The Court of Appeals’ decision means that courts in all nine cases that have gone to trial have rejected plaintiffs’ claims and found in favor of Yamaha.
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11.03.2011 – Yamaha Employees Support OHV Areas in Southern California
Earlier this October, more than 60 employees, family members and friends of Yamaha convened in the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) volunteering more than 200 work hours and kicking off a long-term restoration project at the popular Cactus Flats staging area near Big Bear Lake. Volunteers reached some initial restoration goals through weeding, grubbing, seed collecting, planting native shrubs, watering and other important clean-up projects.
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10.05.2011 – Yamaha GRANTs Save Streams and Promote Responsible Recreation
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.’s OHV Access Initiative continues to support riding areas across the country including a number of GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) that are helping protect waterways and other natural resources. The latest Yamaha OHV funding includes $10,000 for new bridge construction in Oregon’s Tillamook State Forest trail system.
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10.03.2011 – 2012 Rhino 700 Photos
Yamaha recently announced the 2012 Rhino 700 FI Auto 4×4. To see photos of the 2012 Rhino visit the TruthAboutRhino Flickr page.
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05.11.2011 – Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Contributes More Than $136,000 in First Quarter of 2011
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.’s national OHV Access Initiative announced its pledge of more than $136,000 in GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nations Trails) for the first quarter funding cycle of 2011. The GRANT funds are awarded to nonprofit or tax exempt organizations around the country implementing projects to promote safe, responsible OHV riding and open, sustainable riding areas.
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04.15.2011 – Yamaha Statement on McAnelly vs Yamaha Decision in Los Angeles County, CA
A jury in Los Angeles County, Calif., today unanimously rejected the plaintiffs’ claims and returned a defense verdict in McAnelly vs Yamaha, a case involving an accident on a Yamaha Rhino. This verdict in favor of Yamaha marks the fourth time in California and seventh time in a row that a jury has rejected plaintiffs’ claims regarding the Rhino’s design, finding no defect in the Rhino.
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04.04.2011 – Yamaha Statement on Swainston vs Yamaha in Orange County, Calif.
A jury in Orange County, Calif., today rejected the plaintiffs’ claims and returned a defense verdict in Swainston vs Yamaha, a case involving an accident on a Yamaha Rhino. This verdict in favor of Yamaha marks the third time in California, sixth time in a row and seventh time overall that a jury has rejected plaintiffs’ claims regarding the Rhino’s design, finding no defect in the Rhino. In July 2010, a jury found for Yamaha in a Rhino trial in Santa Ana County, Calif., as did a jury in San Bernandino County, Calif., in August 2010.
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03.28.2011 – “Yamaha Takes on Tort Bar And Wins” Declares Wall Street Journal
“Yamaha Takes on Tort Bar– And Wins” Declares Wall Street Journal. In a March 26, 2011 editorial, the Wall Street Journal comments on Yamaha’ s ongoing Rhino litigation noting that the company “had a strong case” and “did something unusual: it chose to fight.” The editorial goes on to state: “In the absence of tort reform, a belief in one’s products is a company’s best defense, and more companies would benefit from fighting back.” The editorial also highlights information related to the improper use of Rhino vehicles as a key cause of Rhino-related incidents. To read the full editorial, please click here.
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03.21.2011 – Yamaha Statement on Sand vs Yamaha Decision in Warren County, OH
A jury in Warren County, Ohio today rejected the plaintiffs’ claims and returned a defense verdict in Sand vs Yamaha, a case involving a fatal accident on a Yamaha Rhino. This verdict in favor of Yamaha marks the sixth time overall that a jury has rejected plaintiffs’ claims regarding the Rhino.
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02.07.2011 – Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Contributed more than $265,000 in 2010
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.’s, national OHV Access Initiative contributed more than $265,000 in GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nations Trails) in 2010. The program, with a mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas, has invested more than $1.5 million into these critical issues to date.
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10.22.2010 – Yamaha Statement on McMahon vs Yamaha Decision in Montgomery, AL
Unanimous defense verdict in favor of Yamaha marks the fifth time, and the second in Alabama, that a jury has rejected plaintiffs’ claims regarding the Rhino’s design, finding no defect in the Rhino.
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10.06.2010 – ROHVA Launches Interactive Safety E-Course
The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) has launched the industry’s first interactive online safety E-Course designed to help users understand safety measures that should be taken when operating Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs). The ROV E-Course is free and available at rohva.org.
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08.23.2010 – Yamaha Announces 2010 Second Quarter OHV Access Initiative GRANTs
50,000 GRANTed to Five Recipients in Q2; Nearly $1.5 Million to Date Promoting Safe, Responsible OHV Riding and Sustainable, Open Access for Motorized Recreation
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08.12.2010 – Yamaha Statement on Mathis vs Yamaha Decision in Alexander City, AL
Fourth Jury Rejects Plaintiff’s Claims, Finds no Defect with Rhino
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08.11.2010 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., Statement
on Lewis/Hernandez vs Yamaha Trial Verdict in San Bernardino County, CA
Third Trial Verdict in Favor of Yamaha; Jury Finds No Product Defect with Yamaha Rhino
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07.26.2010 – Yamaha Statement on Holt vs Yamaha Trial
Statement on Holt vs Yamaha Trial Verdict in Orange County, CA: Jury Finds No Product Defect with Yamaha Rhino.
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05.27.2010 – Yamaha GRANTs $80,000
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., through its OHV (off-highway vehicle) Access Initiative GRANTed more than $80,000 in the fourth quarter of 2009. This brings the program’s year-end funding total to more than $685,000 and two-year total to more than $1.3 million in support of the OHV community nationwide.
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05.12.2010 – Yamaha Supports HAVA
Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) will conclude its biggest raffle in history – including a donated Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS with an assortment of SureFire products as the grand prize – on May 16, 2010, at the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Charlotte, N.C.
