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Garden Tractors

CPSC Recall #98-029 - November 23, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-029
Recall DateNovember 23, 1997
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 34,000

Where It Was Sold

Mass merchandise
wholesale
discount department and builder's supply stores nationwide sold the tractors from January 1997 through June 1997 for about $2
000.

Product

Garden Tractors

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MTD Products Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, is recalling about 34,000 garden tractors. The nut securing each rear wheel assembly to the axle can loosen and fall off, causing a consumer to lose control of the tractor and be injured if the wheel falls off.MTD Products Inc. has received eight reports of nuts loosening and in seven cases, wheels falling off. Minor injuries, such as bruising, have been reported when consumers lost control of the tractors and fell.The garden tractors involved in the recall are 1997 models, having 46-inch or 50-inch mowing decks and 12 or 14 speed gear-drive transmissions. The garden tractors can be identified by the 11-digit model number located under the seat. Model numbers beginning with "14A" or "14B" and whose 5th and 6th digits are "82" or "84" are included in this recall. For example, model number 14AW844H401 is included in this recall. These tractors were sold under MTD "Yard Machines" and "Yard-Man" brands as well as several private labels. Mass merchandise, wholesale, discount department and builder's supply stores nationwide sold the tractors from January 1997 through June 1997 for about $2,000.Consumers should check the model numbers on their garden tractors and call MTD to verify whether or not their tractor is involved in this recall. If involved, consumers should stop using these tractors immediately. Consumers will be directed to a local MTD Authorized Service Dealer to arrange for the repair at no charge. To verify model numbers involved and obtain the name of the nearest MTD Authorized Service Dealer, consumers should call MTD toll-free at (888) 848-6038 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.Garden tractors that have a green "X" next to the model number already have been repaired and are not involved in this recall.

Hazard

The nut securing each rear wheel assembly to the axle can loosen and fall off, causing a consumer to lose control of the tractor and be injured if the wheel falls off.

Incidents & Injuries

MTD Products Inc. has received eight reports of nuts loosening and in seven cases, wheels falling off. Minor injuries, such as bruising, have been reported when consumers lost control of the tractors and fell.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should check the model numbers on their garden tractors and call MTD to verify whether or not their tractor is involved in this recall. If involved, consumers should stop using these tractors immediately. Consumers will be directed to a local MTD Authorized Service Dealer to arrange for the repair at no charge. 

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.

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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.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

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.

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