Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers
CPSC Recall #04-183 — July 19, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-183 |
| Recall Date | July 19, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | 5,900 |
| Manufacturer | Simplicity Manufacturing Inc., of Port Washington, Wis. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Independent lawn mower dealers nationwide from June 2003 through May 2004 for between $2 |
| 000 and $3 |
| 750. |
Product
Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Simplicity Manufacturing Inc., of Port Washington, Wis. is voluntarily recalling about 5,900 Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers. A safety switch under the seat of these lawn tractors and riding mowers is designed to stop the mower blade turning within 5 seconds of the operator leaving the tractor seat. The recalled mowers' blades can continue to turn longer than 5 seconds after the operator leaves the seat, posing a laceration and amputation hazard.Name of product: Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers Units: 5,900Manufacturer: Simplicity Manufacturing Inc., of Port Washington, Wis.Hazard: A safety switch under the seat of these lawn tractors and riding mowers is designed to stop the mower blade turning within 5 seconds of the operator leaving the tractor seat. The recalled mowers' blades can continue to turn longer than 5 seconds after the operator leaves the seat, posing a laceration and amputation hazard.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: These lawn tractors and riding mowers, designed for non- commercial use, were sold under the Simplicity, AGCO and Massey Ferguson brand names. They include Regent/500/2500 Series lawn tractors, Coronet/2400 Series riding mowers, and Lancer/4400 Series riding mowers with the following model and serial numbers:Regent/500/2500 Series:Product SeriesModel NumberSerial NumberRegent, 15-hp169391109000-09439Regent, 15-hp169432109000-10015Regent, 15-hp169431400166-00334Regent, 16-hp169391509000-11368Regent, 16-hp169420009000-09120, 10000-10411Regent, 16-hp169431309000-09060, 10000-10001Regent, 17-hp169391809000-09050515H, 15-hp169432309000-09027516H, 16-hp169393509000-090342515H, 15-hp169432509000-090112526H, 16-hp169434309000-09025Coronet/2400/RT Series:Product SeriesModel NumberSerial NumberCoronet, 13-hp169446200001-00599Coronet, 16-hp169446300001-00346Coronet, 13-hp169451000001-000982413H, 13-hp169446400001-00028Lancer/4400 Series:Product SeriesModel NumberSerial NumberLancer, 17-hp169429202000-020164417, 17-hp169429402000-02160Sold at: Independent lawn mower dealers nationwide from June 2003 through May 2004 for between $2,000 and $3,750.Manufactured in: U.S.A.Remedy: Consumers should contact the dealership where the lawn tractor or riding mower was purchased to have a free replacement seat safety switch installed.Consumer Contact: Call Simplicity at (800) 357-8244 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday visit the firm's website at www.simplicitymfg.com, or write to Simplicity Manufacturing, 500 N. Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074.
Hazard
A safety switch under the seat of these lawn tractors and riding mowers is designed to stop the mower blade turning within 5 seconds of the operator leaving the tractor seat. The recalled mowers' blades can continue to turn longer than 5 seconds after the operator leaves the seat, posing a laceration and amputation hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should contact the dealership where the lawn tractor or riding mower was purchased to have a free replacement seat safety switch installed.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.