Toro-brand Commercial-grade Riding Mower

CPSC Recall #02-125 — March 21, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-125
Recall DateMarch 21, 2002
Remedy TypeRepair
Units Affected13,000

Where It Was Sold

Toro dealers nationwide sold these riding mowers between January 1998 and December 2001 for between $6
000 and $7
300.

Product

Toro-brand Commercial-grade Riding Mower

Description

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Toro-brand commercial-grade riding mowers. The recall includes Toro-brand Zmaster Z100 series riding mowers. They are red, equipped with 17 to 23 horsepower engines and have mowing decks from 44 to 52 inches. The mowers have independently controlled rear-drive wheels, front casters, and a centrally mounted mowing deck. The brand and model names (Toro Zmaster) appear on the front of the mower.Some of these riding mowers previously were recalled in March 2001. Even if consumers previously had their riding mower repaired, they need to contact Toro for this additional repair.Toro Timecutter Z and Wheel Horse residential duty riding mowers are not part of this recall.

Hazard

The riding mower's exhaust system can ignite fuel vapors from spilled fuel if the engine backfires.

Incidents & Injuries

Toro has received 10 reports of fires caused when these mowers backfired and ignited nearby fuel vapors. One serious burn injury was reported. Property damage was limited to varying degrees of damage to the mowers.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled mowers and contact Toro or their local Toro dealer to determine if their riding mower's model numbers and serial numbers are included in the recall. The model and serial number are located on a decal located on the right side of the operating console below the seat. If needed, the dealer will schedule a repair of the riding mower's exhaust system.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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.