Lawn-Boy power mowers
CPSC Recall #99-045 — January 6, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-045 |
| Recall Date | January 6, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 78,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Lawn-Boy Dealers and mass merchant retail outlets |
| including Sears |
| Lowe's and the Home Depot |
| sold these mowers from January 1997 through November 1998 for between $280 and $400. |
Product
Lawn-Boy power mowers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Toro Co., of Bloomington, Minn., is recalling approximately 78,000 Lawn-Boy power mowers. Interference with the mower's mulching fan can cause the mower blade to crack and break off. Broken pieces of the blade can be propelled from underneath the mower, possibly injuring the operator or a bystander. Toro has received one report of a consumer who was struck on the ankle by a piece of a broken mower blade while mowing, resulting in a bruised tendon. The recalled Lawn-Boy Silver Series, Four Cycle, walk-behind, 21-inch power mowers have the following model and serial numbers, which are printed on a decal on the right rear of the mower: Model Number Serial Number Range 10200 7900001-7999999 10202 7900001-7999999 10212 7900001-7999999 10236 7900001-7999999 10249 8900001-8999999 10302 7900001-7999999 10307 7900001-7999999 10313 7900001-8999999 10321 7900001-8999999 Lawn-Boy Dealers and mass merchant retail outlets, including Sears, Lowe's and the Home Depot, sold these mowers from January 1997 through November 1998 for between $280 and $400. Consumers should stop using these recalled mowers immediately. The company is mailing consumers free repair kits which include a new mower blade and modified mulching fan. Consumers can have the repair performed for free at a local Lawn-Boy service dealer after receiving the repair kit. Consumers who sent in their mower's registration card will automatically be mailed a repair kit. Consumers who have not been notified should contact their local Lawn-Boy service dealer for assistance. To locate the nearest Lawn-Boy service dealer or for more information, consumers should call Lawn-Boy at (800) 444-8676 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday. Mowers currently being sold have been corrected.
Hazard
Interference with the mower's mulching fan can cause the mower blade to crack and break off. Broken pieces of the blade can be propelled from underneath the mower, possibly injuring the operator or a bystander.
Incidents & Injuries
Toro has received one report of a consumer who was struck on the ankle by a piece of a broken mower blade while mowing, resulting in a bruised tendon.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these recalled mowers immediately. The company is mailing consumers free repair kits which include a new mower blade and modified mulching fan. Consumers can have the repair performed for free at a local Lawn-Boy service dealer after receiving the repair kit. Consumers who sent in their mower's registration card will automatically be mailed a repair kit. Consumers who have not been notified should contact their local Lawn-Boy service dealer for assistance.
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.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.