Polaris Slingshots recalled

MINNEAPOLIS – Holy Batcar! Polaris Industries recalled 1,896 of its new three-wheeler Slingshot motorcycles because of defects discovered in the steering rack and protective roll bars, company officials announced Jan. 29. No accidents were reported.

Polaris staffers and dealers called every customer who bought the supercharged vehicle.

The 2015 Slingshot, which features a single and ultra-thick back wheel, launched with great fanfare at the company’s product show in Minneapolis in July. Demonstrations on the street brought traffic to a halt and prompted fascinated Minneapolis police to pull over one driver to ask questions.

Now the company is answering questions of a different kind.

Polaris spokeswoman Marlys Knutson said Polaris began calling customers and notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Jan. 16, when it discovered a bushing problem below the steering mechanism and learned that roll bars behind the two seats had been compromised during a paint heat-treating process.

The problems were discovered on three vehicles, but no accidents or injuries occurred. NHTSA put out an official consumer alert Jan. 29 and told Slingshot owners not to drive the vehicle until repairs are complete.

Knutson said all replacements parts are now in dealerships and consumers could get their Slingshots repaired as soon as Jan. 30. The company is offering customers up to $250 in towing services, plus all repairs.