Recall: Hydrostatic Lawn Tractors Recalled by Hydro-Gear Due to Crash Hazard


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2012
Release #12-132
Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 848-6038
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Hydrostatic Lawn Tractors Recalled by Hydro-Gear Due to Crash Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Lawn Tractors

Units: About 2,700

Manufacturer: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership, of Sullivan, Ill.

Hazard: A drive gear in the lawn tractor's hydrostatic transaxle can fail causing brake failure, posing a crash hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Cub Cadet, MTD Gold and Troy-Bilt lawn tractors sold with Hydro-Gear model 618-0319 and 618-04270B transaxles. Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt tractors included in this recall have dates of manufacture (DOM) ranging from December 2010 through March 2011. The DOM can be found on a label on the underside of the seat. MTD Gold can be identified by serial numbers starting with 1L15 or 1L16. Affected transaxles have serial numbers with the first four digits ranging between 0333 and 0348. Transaxle model and serial numbers are printed on a label on the transaxle.

Cub Cadet lawn tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Mower Brand Mower Type Mower Model No. Hydro-Gear
Transaxle Part No.
Transaxle Serial No.
(1st four digits)
Cub Cadet LTX 1045 13WX91AT010
13WX91AT056
618-0319 0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet LTX 1046KW 13WG91AT010 618-0319 0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet LTX 1046M 13WP91AT009 618-0319 0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet LTX 1050KH 13WQ91AP009 618-0319 0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet LTX 1050KW 13WF91AP010
13WF91AP056
618-0319 0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet SLTX 1050 13WQ92AP010 618-04270B 0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet SLTX 1054 13WK92AK009
13WK92AK010
13WK92AK056
618-04270B 0333 thru 0348

MTD Gold brand tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Mower Brand Mower Type Mower Model No. Hydro-Gear
Transaxle Part No.
Transaxle Serial No.
(1st four digits)
MTD Gold Hydro 13AP925P004 618-04270B 0333 thru 0348

Troy-Bilt brand tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Mower Brand Mower Type Mower Model No. Hydro-Gear
Transaxle Part No.
Transaxle Serial No.
(1st four digits)
Troy-Bilt TB2450 13WQ92KP066 618-04270B 0333 thru 0348

Sold by: Lawn and garden retailers nationwide from January 2011 through January 2012 for about between $1,900 and $2,800.

Manufactured in: U.S.A.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lawn tractors and contact the firm for instructions on obtaining a repair from an authorized service provider.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact the firm's toll-free at (888) 848-6038 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firms' websites at www.cubcadet.com, www.troybilt.com or www.MTDproducts.com. Consumers can also visit Hydro-Gear's website at www.hydro-gear.com

Tractor Identification Photos (by Brand) and Sample DOM Labels:



Picture of recalled Cub Cadet tractor and sample label

Cub Cadet (Located under seat)



Picture of recalled MTD Gold tractor and sample label

MTD Gold (Located under seat)



Picture of recalled Troy-Bilt tractor and sample label
Troy-Bilt (Located under seat)



Transaxle Identification Photo and Sample Transaxle Label

Transaxle Identification Photo and Sample Transaxle Label