John Deere LT series Lawn Tractors

CPSC Recall #02-517 — January 3, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-517
Recall DateJanuary 3, 2002
Remedy TypeReplace
Units Affected8,000

Where It Was Sold

The recalled lawn tractors were manufactured from December 2000 through January 2001 and sold by authorized John Deere dealers for about $2
700.

Product

John Deere LT series Lawn Tractors

Description

Deere & Company of Moline, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 8,000 LT lawn tractors. The tractors have a 38", 42" or 48" mower deck, a 13 to 16 horsepower engine, and are green with yellow trim. "John Deere" and the model number are printed on the hood of the tractor. This recall involves the following John Deere LT series lawn tractors: Model Serial Number LT 133A MOL133A133732-137051 LT 155B MOL155B132012-135678 LT 155C MOL155C125907-126632 LT 166E MOL166E126422-127231 LT 166F MOL166F125307-125410 LT 166G MOL166G125444-125606 LT 166J MOL166J125870-127202  

Hazard

The fuel tank can crack and leak fuel, posing a fire hazard and risk of burn injuries to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Deere has received 91 reports of fuel tanks cracking. No fires or injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the recalled lawn tractors immediately and contact their nearest John Deere dealer to arrange for a free replacement fuel tank to be 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.

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.