The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·01526·Announced 2001-07-20

Toro and Exmark Commercial Riding Mowers Recalled for Fire Hazard

The Toro Company is recalling approximately 39,000 commercial riding mowers because spilled fuel can ignite during refueling, causing fires and minor burns.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves reported fires and minor burn injuries, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe (4) classification.

Plain-English summary

The Toro Company is recalling approximately 39,000 Toro and Exmark brand commercial duty zero-turn radius riding mowers. The recall involves mowers equipped with engine sizes from 17 to 26 HP and mowing deck widths from 44 to 72 inches. Specific affected models include Exmark Lazer HP, Exmark Lazer, Toro Zmaster Z-100 Series, and Toro Zmaster Z-200 Series units.

The hazard exists because spilled fuel can ignite during refueling when fuel vapors are drawn into the hot muffler. Toro has received 28 reports of fires and 12 reports of minor burn injuries, mainly to commercial users. These mowers were sold nationwide by Toro and Exmark commercial dealers between January 1998 and March 2001 for between $6,300 and $11,200.

Consumers should call Exmark at 800-479-8379 or Toro at 888-577-7466 to determine if their riding mower is part of the recall. If the mower is affected, local Exmark or Toro dealers will install a spark arrester and, for selected Exmark models, a new fuel tank for free. Registered owners should have already been contacted by letter.

The recalled product

Product
Toro and Exmark brand commercial duty zero-turn radius riding mowers
Manufacturer
The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn.
Category
Consumer Product — Lawn Mowers
Hazard
Affected units
39,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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