The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·01018·Announced 2000-10-25

Toro Recalls Key Start Lawn Mowers Due to Fire Hazard

Toro is recalling about 23,000 Key Start power mowers because the wiring can short circuit, posing a fire hazard. No injuries have been reported.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard with eight reported instances of wiring shorting out, but no injuries have been reported, which aligns with the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

The Toro Co. is recalling about 23,000 Key Start power mowers, model 20045. These are gasoline-powered, walk-behind mowers with a 21-inch cutting blade. The model number is located on a decal on the right-rear of the mower housing.

The recall is being issued because the wiring on these mowers can short circuit, which poses a fire hazard. Toro has received eight reports of the wiring shorting out, but no injuries have been reported.

These mowers were sold by Toro dealers nationwide from February 1999 through September 2000 for about $590. Consumers should stop using these recalled mowers immediately and contact a Toro service dealer to have the wiring harness inspected and replaced, if needed, free of charge. For more information or to locate a dealer, consumers can call Toro at (888) 877-8873 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

The recalled product

Product
Toro Key Start power mowers
Manufacturer
The Toro Co., of Bloomington, Minn.
Category
Consumer Product — Lawn Mowers
Hazard
Affected units
23,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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