Lawn-Boy 1988 and 1989 model lawnmowers
CPSC Recall #93-093 - July 13, 1993
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 93-093 |
| Recall Date | July 13, 1993 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 160,000 |
Product
Lawn-Boy 1988 and 1989 model lawnmowers
Description
PRODUCT: Certain Lawn-Boy 1988 and 1989 model lawnmowers. (List of affected models follows.)PROBLEM: The gas tanks on the mowers may split along the seams, leaking gasoline. The leaking gasoline presents a fire hazard.WHAT TO DO: Mowers purchased after September 1, 1989 should have the tank replaced immediately. Those mowers purchased prior to September 1, 1989 should be regularly inspected for leaks and if a leak should actually occur, the tank should be replaced.WASHINGTON, D.C. -- CPSC, The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN, acting on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lawn-Boy, Inc., is voluntarily recalling gasoline tanks on some Lawn-Boy 1988 and 1989 model lawnmowers. The seams of the gas tanks may split, presenting a fire hazard from leaking gasoline.The repair program includes the following eleven lawn mower models with serial numbers having the first four characters in the range F273-H241:Lawn Mower Models42628073AEL21ZSNA7073L21ZSNL20ZPR7073AL21ZPNL20PRA8073L21ZPNA Customers owning one of the models listed above purchased since September 1, 1989 should contact their local Lawn-Boy service dealer to have the fuel tank replaced at no charge. Customers who have previously had their fuel tank replaced should disregard this notice.Customers owning one of these models purchased before September 1, 1989 should inspect the mower for leaking gas at every use and not store the mower with the tank more than half full. If a leak is found, these customers should move the mower to an open area and arrange to return their mowers to a Lawn-Boy service dealer for a free tank replacement. Customers experiencing difficulties locating a service dealer can contact Lawn-Boy at 1-800-526-6937 for the location of a nearby dealer.The Toro Company has received numerous reports of leaking tanks, and one fire. There have been no injuries reported. Toro implemented an inspection program in April, 1991 and over 26,000 tanks have been replaced to date on the affected models. Toro believes that most defective tanks on mowers purchased before September 1, 1989 have already leaked and been replaced.Approximately 160,000 of the affected lawnmowers were sold nationwide from 1988 to the present by Lawn-Boy dealers.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as a part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.
Hazard
The gas tanks on the mowers may split along the seams, leaking gasoline. The leaking gasoline presents a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
The Toro Company has received numerous reports of leaking tanks, and one fire. There have been no injuries reported.
Remedy Instructions
Customers owning one of the models listed above purchased since September 1, 1989 should contact their local Lawn-Boy service dealer to have the fuel tank replaced at no charge.Customers owning one of these models purchased before September 1, 1989 should inspect the mower for leaking gas at every use and not store the mower with the tank more than half full. If a leak is found, these customers should move the mower to an open area and arrange to return their mowers to a Lawn-Boy service dealer for a free tank replacement.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, 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 (Inspect, Replace) 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.