Yamaha, Arctic Cat Snowmobile Defective Starter Class Action Settlement

Owners and lessees of certain Yamaha and Arctic Cat snowmobile models may be eligible for compensation thanks to a class action settlement resolving claims the snowmobiles have a defective starter.

The Class is made up of anyone who purchased or leased a snowmobile with a 7000 or 1049cc engine of the following models in Canada for the years 2014 to 2018 and who did not opt out of the national settlement agreement:

• Yamaha Viper series
• Arctic Cat: 
  • ZR 7000 LXR
  • ZR 7000 Sno Pro
  • ZR 7000 Limited
  • ZR 7000 EI Tigre
  • ZR 7000 RR
  • Pantera 7000
  • Pantera 7000 Limited
  • M 7000 Sno Pro
  • XF 7000 Cross Country
  • XF 7000 Crosstour
  • XF 7000 High Country
  • XF 7000 Limited
  • XF 7000 LXR
  • XF 7000 Sno Pro
  • XF 7000 Cross Country Sno Pro

Consumers may click here to find out whether their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is included in the list of eligible VINs.

Plaintiffs in a Québec class action lawsuit alleged certain Arctic Cat and Yamaha snowmobile models had a defective starter.

Arctic Cat and Yamaha have denied any allegations of wrongdoing or liability, but have agreed to the settlement.

Both companies sell popular snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, and other recreational vehicles.

The national defective starter settlement agreement provides certain benefits to different categories of claims:

• Category 1 Claim — Extended Repair Program: Class Members who own or lease an affected snowmobile that has not reached a maximum distance traveled of 30,000 kilometers may be entitled to have the goods and services defined and offered by Arctic Cat under Service Bulletin BS201810 and by Yamaha under Service Bulletin S18-067 installed for free.
• Category 2 Claim — Repair Work Credit: Class Members who, before Sept. 14, 2020, had the control unit of the starter reprogrammed under Arctic Cat’s Service Bulletin BS201506 or Service Bulletin BS201706, or under Yamaha Service Bulletin S15-015 or Service Bulletin S16-080 for any affected snowmobile may be entitled to a single credit of either $80 or $160, as the case may be, irrespective of the number of affected snowmobiles they owned or leased, redeemable against any in-store or online available transaction made during the Claims Period.
• Category 3 Claim – Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Class Members who, before Sept. 14, 2020, incurred compensable out-of-pocket expenses as a result of a starter deficiency on any affected snowmobile, may be entitled to a single credit of $200 per incident, up to a maximum of three incidents, for a maximum combined credit value of $600, as the case may be, irrespective of the number of affected snowmobiles they owned or leased, redeemable on any in-store or online available transactions made during the Claims Period.
• Category 4 Claim – Settlement Benefits to Past Owners: Members of the Class who, at the relevant time under the national settlement agreement, had the status of past owner and sold their affected snowmobile on a date subsequent to the circumstances for which credits are being offered under the national settlement agreement, may be entitled to recover, on an individual basis, an single amount payable in cash equal to the combined value of the credits they would otherwise have been entitled to receive and redeem during the Claims Period in conformity with the national settlement agreement.

An approval hearing in the Yamaha and Arctic Cat snowmobiles defective starter settlement was held June 18, 2021.

The deadline to opt out of the settlement has passed.

Category 1 benefits under the Extended Repair Program are available until Nov. 9, 2023, and do not require a claim form. All other categories require Class Members to file a claim.

Claim forms must be postmarked by March 9, 2022, and received by the claims administrator no later than April 8, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The Class is made up of anyone who purchased or leased a snowmobile with a 7000 or 1049cc engine of the following models in Canada for the years 2014 to 2018 and who did not opt out of the national settlement agreement:

• Yamaha Viper series
• Arctic Cat: 
  • ZR 7000 LXR
  • ZR 7000 Sno Pro
  • ZR 7000 Limited
  • ZR 7000 EI Tigre
  • ZR 7000 RR
  • Pantera 7000
  • Pantera 7000 Limited
  • M 7000 Sno Pro
  • XF 7000 Cross Country
  • XF 7000 Crosstour
  • XF 7000 High Country
  • XF 7000 Limited
  • XF 7000 LXR
  • XF 7000 Sno Pro
  • XF 7000 Cross Country Sno Pro

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

A true and correct copy of any and all service orders, invoices, account or credit statements or
other documents evidencing:
(a) the incurrence of Compensable Out-of-Pocket Expenses as a direct result of the Starter
Deficiency, and
(b) a request or an attempt made after a first or a second Incident to have the services offered
by ACT under Service Bulletins BS201506, BS201706 or BS201810, or by Yamaha under
Services Bulletins S15-050, S16-080 or S18-067 performed, or to have a starter repair effected
by a Snowmobile Repair Merchant.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

04/08/2022

Case Name

Harvey V. Arctic Cat Inc. et al., 200-06-000225-188, in the Superior Court of Québec

Final Hearing

06/18/2021

Settlement Website

ArcticCatYamahaNationalClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

Epiq Class Action Services Canada Inc.
Attention: Arctic Cat Yamaha National Class Action Settlement Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 507 STN B
Ottawa ON K1P 5P6
info@ArcticCatYamahaNationalClassAction.ca
833-683-5866

Class Counsel

Mtre Karim Diallo
SISKINDS DESMEULES AVOCATS

Defense Counsel

Mtre Vincent Rochette
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT CANADA LLP

Mtre Anne Merminod
BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS