It’s critical to pay attention to recall announcements from across the country, especially when the recall affects a mode of transportation. As a personal injury lawyer in San Bernardino, I know that people are never more at risk for injury than when they are being conveyed by some kind of vehicle, whether it be a car or something else. If a part is faulty, it needs to be taken care of right away.

That’s why I’m bringing to you news today of a recall of KYMCO utility vehicles. About 1,876 of the vehicles were affected in total. These include models UXV 500, UXV 500 LE, and UXV 500 SE in model years 2009 through 2012, as well as models UXV 500i, UXV 500i LE, and UXV 500i SE in the 2012 model year. Owners of these vehicles should go to the KYMCO website to see if their VIN number falls into the affected range.

The problem concerns an exposed portion of the exhaust system. The opening allows flammable debris such as leaves or brush to enter and ignite, creating a fire hazard. Already three reports have been received of the vehicles catching fire and being damaged, though thankfully, no injuries have been reported as yet.

The gasoline-powered off-road vehicles, which have two side by side seats and a cargo bed, were sold across the country by KYMCO dealers between June 2008 and October 2011. They were priced between $7,600 and $10,100.

As with almost all recalls, consumers should cease use and bring the item to a KYMCO dealer for a free repair kit installation.

Again, I can’t stress enough how important recalls are, especially when they concern motor vehicles. As a San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, I think it’s vital to make sure anything with wheels meets stringent safety requirements.