Lawn tractors sold under the brand names Poulan Pro, WEED EATER, Husqvarna and Jonsered

CPSC Recall #02-043 - November 15, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-043
Recall DateNovember 15, 2001
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 35,000

Where It Was Sold

Department
home and hardware stores
including authorized dealerships of the brand names listed
sold the recalled tractors from November 2000 through September 2001 for between $1
000 and $2
000.

Product

Lawn tractors sold under the brand names Poulan Pro, WEED EATER, Husqvarna and Jonsered

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), WCI Outdoor Products, of Cleveland, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 35,000 lawn tractors to replace their 2-gallon fuel tanks. The tank in the lawn tractor can crack and leak fuel, posing a fire hazard.WCI has received 76 reports of the fuel tanks on these lawn tractors cracking. No injuries have been reported.The recall involves lawn tractors sold under the brand names Poulan Pro, WEED EATER, Husqvarna and Jonsered. They have the manufacturer ID number and serial date codes listed below, located under the tractor seat on the fender.  BrandMFG. ID NumberSERIAL DateService Repair CenterPoulan ProPR1742ST(A)(B)(C)(D)PR17H42ST(A)(B)(C)PR18542ST(A)(B)(C)PR185H42ST(C)(D)Range(MO/DA/YR)110700through082101  (800) 849-1297www.poulan.comPR20H42ST(B)(C)(D)PRK17G42ST(A)(B)PRK17H42ST(A)(B)(800) 358-1097www.sears.comWEED EATERS165H42(A)(800) 849-1297www.poulan.comHusqvarnaYTH1542(A)(B)(C)YTH1746(A)(B) (800) 438-7297www.husqvarna.comJonseredJNA1542(A)JNA15H42(A) (877) 693-7729Department, home and hardware stores, including authorized dealerships of the brand names listed, sold the recalled tractors from November 2000 through September 2001 for between $1,000 and $2,000.Consumers should stop using these lawn tractors immediately and contact the appropriate service center listed above for a free repair. For more information, call WCI Outdoor Products Inc toll-free at (866) 284-8872 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. 

Hazard

The tank in the lawn tractor can crack and leak fuel, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

WCI has received 76 reports of the fuel tanks on these lawn tractors cracking. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these lawn tractors immediately and contact the appropriate service center listed above for a free repair.

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.