IllustrationEXHAUST PIPES FROM MOTOR TO MUFFER CHERRY RED AND PLASTIC MELTING HOT TO THE TOUCH IF U RIDE IT FOR MORE THAN TEN MINS ON DIRT ROAD OR IN CREEKS.
2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000XP
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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Owner complaints by model year
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What owners reported most
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports8 fire reports2 injury reports
Structure complaints
8 reportsEXHAUST TO HEAT
THE MUFFLER GETS SO HOT IT MELTS THE PLASTIC FENDER STARTS ON FIRE
ATV POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015 ALMOST NEW, 120 MILES ON IT. EXHAUST HEAT MELTED THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, FENDER AND OTHER SMALLER PLASTIC PARTS. FLEXIBLE HEAT SHIELDS WERE NOT ENOUGH AND DISTROYED AS WELL. VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE (MELTED PLASITC IGNITED), I TURNED THE FIRE WITH HANDS (TKS GOD I HAD GLOVES). …
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ATV POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015 ALMOST NEW, 120 MILES ON IT. EXHAUST HEAT MELTED THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR HARNESS, FENDER AND OTHER SMALLER PLASTIC PARTS. FLEXIBLE HEAT SHIELDS WERE NOT ENOUGH AND DISTROYED AS WELL. VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE (MELTED PLASITC IGNITED), I TURNED THE FIRE WITH HANDS (TKS GOD I HAD GLOVES). DEALER WANT TO REPLACE PARTS ONLY, NO CHANGES AT ALL. HAVE BEEN WAITING 9 WEEKS FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE, NO PARTS YET. I'M A MECHANICAL ENGENEER AND ALMOST SURE THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOPE POLAIRS FINALLY LISTEN AND PROTECT THEIR CUSOTMERS SAFETY, BEFORE SOME ONE GET HURT. AS PER FORUMS, MORE THAN 50% OF THESE ATVS POLARIS SPORTSMAN 1000 XP 2015, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, MELTED PLASTIC PARTS.
MUFFLER ON THIS MACHINE BECOMES RED HOT WITH NORMAL USE, AT SPEEDS OF 15-25 MPH PLASTIC IN AREA OF MUFFLER AND HEAT SHIELD BECOMES TO HOT TO TOUCH, IN SOME CASES MELTING PLASTIC BODY PARTS. IF THIS RED HOT MUFFLER WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH BRUSH THERE WOULD BE HIGH PROBABILITY OF FIRE. POLARIS DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN SOL…
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MUFFLER ON THIS MACHINE BECOMES RED HOT WITH NORMAL USE, AT SPEEDS OF 15-25 MPH PLASTIC IN AREA OF MUFFLER AND HEAT SHIELD BECOMES TO HOT TO TOUCH, IN SOME CASES MELTING PLASTIC BODY PARTS. IF THIS RED HOT MUFFLER WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH BRUSH THERE WOULD BE HIGH PROBABILITY OF FIRE. POLARIS DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN SOLVING THIS ISSUE.
EXHAUST BECOMES RED HOT ONLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF RIDING. THE EXHAUST MUFFLER IS VERY CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC FENDER AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. BECAUSE IT GETS SO HOT AND SITS SO CLOSE TO THE REAR TIRE I FEAR THAT THERE WILL BE A FIRE. IN FACT, I HAVE NOTICED LEAVES AND GRASS CATCH FIRE FROM NORMAL RIDING BUT THEY BURNED OFF WITHOUT…
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EXHAUST BECOMES RED HOT ONLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES OF RIDING. THE EXHAUST MUFFLER IS VERY CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC FENDER AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. BECAUSE IT GETS SO HOT AND SITS SO CLOSE TO THE REAR TIRE I FEAR THAT THERE WILL BE A FIRE. IN FACT, I HAVE NOTICED LEAVES AND GRASS CATCH FIRE FROM NORMAL RIDING BUT THEY BURNED OFF WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC. THE PLASTIC GETS SO HOT IT WILL SOFTEN AND BEND EASILY TO THE TOUCH. THE STICK ON HEAT SHIELD UNDER THE FENDER GETS SO HOT, IT LOST ITS STICKYNESS AND IS NOW FALLING OFF. IT ALSO GOT SO HOT THAT THE ALUMINUM HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE EXHAUST IS COMING APART AT THE FACTORY CRIMP POINTS.
AFTER A 15 MINUTE RIDE, THE MUFFLER WAS SO HOT IT WAS GLOWING RED. THE HEAT PUT OFF BY THE MUFFLER ACTUALLY MELTED MY REAR BODY PANEL ABOVE THE EXHAUST. THE HEAT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FIRE HAD I PARKED THE UNIT WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING THE EXHAUST, WHICH I DO AFTER EVERY RIDE AFTER READING SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF…
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AFTER A 15 MINUTE RIDE, THE MUFFLER WAS SO HOT IT WAS GLOWING RED. THE HEAT PUT OFF BY THE MUFFLER ACTUALLY MELTED MY REAR BODY PANEL ABOVE THE EXHAUST. THE HEAT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FIRE HAD I PARKED THE UNIT WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING THE EXHAUST, WHICH I DO AFTER EVERY RIDE AFTER READING SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE.
THE EXHAUST MUFFLER GETS SO HOT IT GLOWS ORANGE AND YOU CAN SMELL MELTING PLASTIC. I STOPPED RIDING THIS MACHINE DUE TO IT BEING A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.