Golf carts are intended to be convenient recreational vehicles, used for short distance trips or, more naturally, for playing golf. They are not, however, among the first vehicles we think of when someone mentions danger, fire hazards or serious accidents, which is why owners of certain Club Car golf cart models have reason for concern over yesterday’s recall announcement of approximately 950 carts.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Club Car is recalling these Precedent i2 and Signature gas golf and transport vehicles because of three reports of fuel hoses separating from the cart gas tanks. This could obviously pose a fire hazard, as the hose separation could lead to fuel leaking, and ultimately it could mean unexpected injuries and burns to anyone operating these carts as the separation occurs.
This week’s recall is reminiscent of the three recalls that Club Car announced in 2012, with the most recent occurring in September. That recall involved more than 4,000 carts that were manufactured with fuel tank defects that led to fuel tank filler necks cracking. Ultimately, those cracks posed a serious fire hazard concern because they could have led to fuel leaks.
There are five models in particular that are affected by this latest recall, including the Prec i2 Signature 4 Pass Gas (model no. PW; serial no. range 1307-346775), Prec i2 Signature Gas (PY; 1307-346310 to 1307-346312), Precedent i2 4 Pass Gas (PF; 1307-345436 to 1311-352118), Precedent i2 Gas (PR; 1306-344140 to 1311-352109), and Precedent i2L Gas (CF; 1307-345914 to 1310-349283). The serial numbers are located on a plate above the accelerator pedal. These carts were all manufactured and sold in 2012 by authorized Club Car dealers, and they retailed between $5,000 and $8,000.
While there have been three reports of hose separation, there have fortunately been no injuries or accidents reported. In the meantime, the Augusta, Georgia-based Club Car is urging consumers to stop using the Precedent and Signature golf carts immediately and contact the company at (800) 227-0739 (Extension 3831) to schedule a free inspection and repair to resolve this dangerous defect. Club Car representatives are also already in the process of contacting owners who have purchased these golf carts.