Lawn Tractors
CPSC Recall #05-218 — July 5, 2005
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-218 |
| Recall Date | July 5, 2005 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 21,000 |
| Manufacturer | Tecumseh Power Co., of Grafton, Wis. |
| Manufactured In | Brazil |
Where It Was Sold
| Home and hardware stores nationwide from December 2004 through May 2005 for between $750 and $1 |
| 300. |
Product
Lawn Tractors
Description
These lawn tractors have a 6-speed MST206-545C Peerless transaxle and a 17.5, 18, 18.5 or 19 horsepower engine. The recalled tractor and transaxle model number information is located below the tractor seat (see Figure 1), and on the transaxle housing (see Figure 2). The recalled transaxles have a date of manufacture code (DOM) between 4275 and 5047 followed by the letter "G", which can be found on the Transaxle ID Label (see Figure 3).BRAND NAMECOLORHPRETAILERTRACTOR MODEL NO.Poulan ProBlack18.5Various Hardware Dealers96012000300PoulanBlack17.5Various Hardware Dealers96012001100Poulan ProBlack19Various Hardware Dealers96012001700Poulan ProBlack18.5Various Hardware Dealers96012002700Southern StatesRed17.5Southern States Dealers96012002200Poulan ProBlack18The Home Depot96016000200CraftsmanGrey18Orchard Supply Hardware275390
Hazard
The axles on these lawn tractors can crack and break if subject to extreme load amounts. Should the axle break, it could cause a loss of control and result in injuries to the rider.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using their lawn tractor, and contact Tecumseh for assistance in identifying affected units, and free repair if necessary.
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.