2021 Honda FourTrax Foreman 520 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $6,500–$9,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The workhorse standard — Honda's Foreman 520 is legendarily reliable, with a durable engine and Honda's tough drivetrain making it a favorite for hunting, farming, and trail work. It holds value strongly. Utility quads get worked in mud and water, so the airbox, radiator, bearings, and CV boots are the inspection. A well-kept, un-drowned Foreman is one of the most dependable quads you can buy; verify it wasn't a mud machine.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
ATVs and side-by-sides fall to the Consumer Product Safety Commission rather than NHTSA. It publishes recalls but no owner-complaint record, and only a minority of campaigns name a model year we can match with confidence. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2021 Honda FourTrax Foreman 520
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
Utility quads get mudded and submerged; check the airbox and oil for water/mud, and inspect wheel bearings, CV boots, and the radiator for mud packing.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$1,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Torn CV boots let in grit and destroy joints; inspect all four.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$600
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Verify oil, valve, and air-filter service.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Check tires, brakes, and any winch operation.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$700
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Water/mud in oil or airbox
- ✗Torn CV boots
- ✗Mud-packed radiator
- ✗Neglected service
Good Signs
- ✓Clean oil and airbox
- ✓Intact CV boots
- ✓Documented service, honest use
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