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The Polaris sign outside of an corporate facility

These Reviews on Consumer Affairs Show Just How Angry Some Polaris Owners Really Are

Polaris is the most popular brand for UTV and ATV sales. However, in this piece we do a deep dive into some alarming reviews on Consumer Affairs. The ratings aren't high, and the complaints could make you think twice about buying Polaris products.

If you are on the lookout for a good ATV or UTV, Polaris is one of the most popular brands. Exciting marketing and a large following make this brand a tempting place to go for purchasing a side-by-side or four wheeler. But not every Polaris owner winds up happy with their off-road vehicle.

The Polaris sign outside of an corporate facility
Polaris Industries Plant in Roseau, MN | BRUCE BISPING/Star Tribune via Getty Images

In fact, reviews on Consumer Affairs show just how angry Polaris owners really are. There’s a reason why Polaris ATVs and UTVs are the most popular brand for off-road rec vehicles. That said, there is a large number of complaints filed on the Consumer Affairs website from some pretty upset consumers.

What are some comments on Consumer Affairs for Polaris models?

two ranchers clearing deadfall with a Polaris Ranger XP 1000 UTV
Polaris Ranger XP 1000 | Polaris

People who have posted complaints on Consumer Affairs seem to start having problems with their Polaris models right from the start. One owner reported, “I purchased this quad in October 2018 new. Since the very beginning I had issues starting it.” This isn’t what people want to deal with when it comes to an off-road rec vehicle.

We go into buying a four wheeler or side-by-side with the intention of buying a resilient machine. Sure, regular maintenance is something buyers know they will have to take on. However, dealing with a machine that breaks early on and continues to have problems isn’t ideal.

Another angry Polaris owner writes, “I bought a Polaris Ranger 900 XP Crew 2019. I’ve had it less than a year and it’s not been good. Problem after problem with it.” One common theme with each of these complaints is how consumers complain about the way Polaris deals with the problems.

We can take the comments on Consumer Affairs at face value

Each Polaris machine bought new comes with a factory warranty. However, Polaris owners complain about the vast majority of repairs not being covered by the factory warranty. On Consumer Affairs, we see comments like “Polaris will not cover anything under warranty.”

We, of course, can only read the comments on Consumer Affairs and report what people are saying. Polaris, from a media standpoint, is nothing but amicable. In addition, the capability and excitement of the Polaris off-road machines is admirable.

a 2021 Polaris Sporstman XP 1000 ATV in the forest
2021 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 | Polaris

It’s not hard to see why people go out to buy an ATV or UTV and end up with a Polaris. In general, they are readily available at dealerships. They are also marketed to take on some tough riding. In fact, one owner on Consumer Affairs writes that the manager of the dealership they purchased from “said they were built for abuse.”

What are the reviews like on other websites?

Another owner reports, “after contacting Polaris with runaround after runaround they decided not to help me at all.” If you peek at the ratings, it’s hard to find many Polaris owners rating their experience above 1 out of 5 stars. Yet certainly, there have been many positive experiences with Polaris ATV products. Let’s look at some supportive comments on Consumer Affairs, as well as read some reviews on another website.

In spite of a large number of low consumer reviews, the overall rating for Polaris problems in an average of 80 complaints is 3.6 out of 5 stars. One owner even came back after an angry review. This owner saw the entire situation rectified by Polaris and returned to amend their previous rating from 1 to 4 out of 5 stars.

That said, Consumer Affairs is only one platform. On ATV.com there are several models rated OK in every category––including the quality and reliability category. One owner of the Sportsman 450 says “I’m happy with it,” of this Polaris model that has a 3.5 star rating overall. There were, however, a few Polaris models, like the Pheonix 200, that rated only 1 out of 5 overall.

There’s no denying that there were some comments left by angry owners on Consumer Affairs. There’s also no denying that Polaris ATV and UTV models are loads of fun. These comments can help inform your research, but ultimately it all comes down to buyers’ choice and more people choose Polaris than any other brand.