Arctic Cat Prowler Buyer Beware

I purchased a new Arctic Cat Prowler 1000 UTV at the first of the year as I wanted  to be one of the first to own one of the most powerful UTVs on the market.  I bought in on all the propaganda from the manufacturer, followed BiPolar Racing in their win of the UTV Class of  the Baja 1000 and read the great article in UTV Offroad Magazine regarding the release of the Arctic Cat Prowler 1000.  I knew I had to have one.

I purchased my Prowler from Prestige Motorsports in Temecula, CA. and was anxious to receive delivery.  During the checkout of the UTV we noted a leak in the coolant system.  The mechanic at Prestige located an improperly installed O Ring.  A quick fix and I was off to test my new “Prized Possession” at Ocotillo Wells located in the desert of Southern California.  During the first run (less than 2 miles) I noticed seepage of differential fluid at the inner joint of the left CV at the rear differential.    Needless to say that I did not want to ruin my new toy on its maiden voyage so we packed up and headed back home.

I contacted my dealer and explained what I had encountered.  I was told that a seal was not properly seated and that I should take a rubber mallet and tap around the metal flange at the CV Joint to press it against the differential.

My next run was to the wonderful world of sand at Glamis.  The Prowler ate up everything Glamis, and other UTV owners in our group were able to throw at me.  On our third day, we were preparing for our morning ride when I was doing my pre-ride check and once again I noted oil from both sides of the differential leaking severly.  Additionally I saw that the Plastic Intake Tube (which my dealer explained was used to bring in cool air for the clutch) was melted onto the parking brake disc located on the rear drive shaft.  Further we noted that the Parking Brake Disc was scoured.  Once again, our trip was cut short and I drove directly to the dealer with ONLY 200 MILES on the Prowler.

At the dealership, I was told that they had seen the tube melt previously on another Prowler and on that one the owner had left the parking brake on and that even leaving it on one or two clicks would engage the brake.  It should be noted that there is an idiot light on the dash to indicate when the parking brake is left on.  Mike from Prestige Motorsports and I checked my Prowler and saw that the Idiot Light did not illuminate until the parking break handle reached the third click.  We then checked no less than three other Prowlers he had in stock and saw that the light varied in its actuation from 3 to 4 clicks.

We contacted Arctic Cat regarding the leaking differential and the issue we encountered with the parking brake.  Arctic Cat had no problem paying to replace the differential seals but would not pay any portion of the Parking Brake repair.

With only 200 miles on my Prowler, I am somewhat anxious about what I will encounter during my next 200 miles.

Arctic Cat should concentrate less on its Marketing and more on it’s design, quality control and Customer Service if it wants to be a true contender in the UTV market.

Until they do so, maybe the readers should hold out for Yamaha’s new 900  

I agree BUYER BEWARE I have a 07 650XT JUNK!!! This machine has been in the shop more than it has been on the road. I will enclose a letter written to the CEO of Arctic Cat. I bought it to get around my property because of health problems. I did hear from someone in coorporate,the gist was sorry there is nothing we can do ,we'll let engineering know. Save your money and time. JUST NOT WORTH THE $10,500.00. I am not a wealthy man. We did contact the Consumer Saftey Office after the Rhino rollover recall.



March 31, 2009

Dear Mr. Twomey,
I am writing to you about your product the Prowler, We purchase it Jan 2007 from Gander Mountain.  The first time out with it, the steering rod broke at the threads, brought it back to Gander MTN, they wouldn’t fix it as they didn’t think it was covered. So I fixed it myself. Spring 07, checking fence line, the first mud hole broke my front and rear axles (same time) Took 6 weeks for Gander to fix. They also fixed the brakes because they were noisy.  Got it back and the differential lock didn’t work.  I then took it to JD sports because I didn’t want to wait another 6 weeks. Gander MTN had put the wrong axles in the machine so JD changed them. Picked it up, had to return again as the diff lock still didn’t work. JD’s hit it with a hammer and said it was the lock ring. It still doesn’t work. On Fathers Day 08 when applying brakes they lock up (takes 2 seconds to unlock). $2751.00 later after a roll over due to brakes locking up. I sustained minor injuries due to wearing my seat belt. Mentioned to JD to check brakes, they did not. Oct 08, gears in transmission broke sending metal into the motor, rebuild $3300.00, new $6000.00.  Looking back knowing what I know now it probably was never the brakes making noise but the transmission.  I purchased this UTV to help me on the farm, as I have a heart condition, my back is shot and I have a golf ball size tumor in my brain.  I am nearly 50 and cannot gear head with my equipment due to my health conditions. The Prowler has not in any way shape or form lived up to my expectations of reliability or dependability. I can understand if I was young and abused this machine, this is simply not the case. We only went with your product because we had a 2000 Arctic Cat 500 with nearly 10,000 miles on it. We had purchased new.  I have changed the rear hub wheel bearings 6 times and that hub is shot.  Then to top it all off, seeing that my motor and transmission are shot, JD’s mechanic said he heard rumors that Gander was selling second quality machines. Why would you as a manufacture allow someone selling junk with your name? I am so disappointed in this Prowler, I simply can’t afford to have it fixed, and I have spent the past month at home after heart surgery.  I think your authorized dealers stink, apparently no one knows how to really diagnosis and repair your machines.  Where does that leave your faithful customers …holding the bag.  I can not honestly recommend Arctic Cat to anyone. I have had nothing but a nightmare with your Prowler and now I am left with nothing.  

I agree BUYER BEWARE I have a 07 650XT JUNK!!! This machine has been in the shop more than it has been on the road. I will enclose a letter written to the CEO of Arctic Cat. I bought it to get around my property because of health problems. I did hear from someone in coorporate,the gist was sorry there is nothing we can do ,we'll let engineering know. Save your money and time. JUST NOT WORTH THE $10,500.00. I am not a wealthy man. We did contact the Consumer Saftey Office after the Rhino rollover recall.



March 31, 2009

Dear Mr. Twomey,
I am writing to you about your product the Prowler, We purchase it Jan 2007 from Gander Mountain.  The first time out with it, the steering rod broke at the threads, brought it back to Gander MTN, they wouldn’t fix it as they didn’t think it was covered. So I fixed it myself. Spring 07, checking fence line, the first mud hole broke my front and rear axles (same time) Took 6 weeks for Gander to fix. They also fixed the brakes because they were noisy.  Got it back and the differential lock didn’t work.  I then took it to JD sports because I didn’t want to wait another 6 weeks. Gander MTN had put the wrong axles in the machine so JD changed them. Picked it up, had to return again as the diff lock still didn’t work. JD’s hit it with a hammer and said it was the lock ring. It still doesn’t work. On Fathers Day 08 when applying brakes they lock up (takes 2 seconds to unlock). $2751.00 later after a roll over due to brakes locking up. I sustained minor injuries due to wearing my seat belt. Mentioned to JD to check brakes, they did not. Oct 08, gears in transmission broke sending metal into the motor, rebuild $3300.00, new $6000.00.  Looking back knowing what I know now it probably was never the brakes making noise but the transmission.  I purchased this UTV to help me on the farm, as I have a heart condition, my back is shot and I have a golf ball size tumor in my brain.  I am nearly 50 and cannot gear head with my equipment due to my health conditions. The Prowler has not in any way shape or form lived up to my expectations of reliability or dependability. I can understand if I was young and abused this machine, this is simply not the case. We only went with your product because we had a 2000 Arctic Cat 500 with nearly 10,000 miles on it. We had purchased new.  I have changed the rear hub wheel bearings 6 times and that hub is shot.  Then to top it all off, seeing that my motor and transmission are shot, JD’s mechanic said he heard rumors that Gander was selling second quality machines. Why would you as a manufacture allow someone selling junk with your name? I am so disappointed in this Prowler, I simply can’t afford to have it fixed, and I have spent the past month at home after heart surgery.  I think your authorized dealers stink, apparently no one knows how to really diagnosis and repair your machines.  Where does that leave your faithful customers …holding the bag.  I can not honestly recommend Arctic Cat to anyone. I have had nothing but a nightmare with your Prowler and now I am left with nothing.