The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·05218·Announced 2005-07-06

Tecumseh Power Recalls Lawn Tractors Due to Axle Crack Risk

Tecumseh Power is recalling about 21,000 lawn tractors because the axles can crack and break under extreme load, potentially causing loss of control and injury.

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 structural defect (axle breakage) that could cause loss of control and injury, but the source explicitly states that no injuries have been reported, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Tecumseh Power Co. of Grafton, Wisconsin, are recalling approximately 21,000 lawn tractors. The affected units feature a 6-speed MST206-545C Peerless transaxle and a 17.5, 18, 18.5, or 19 horsepower engine. The recall covers tractors sold at home and hardware stores nationwide, including The Home Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware, and various hardware dealers, from December 2004 through May 2005 for between $750 and $1,300.

The hazard involves the axles on these lawn tractors, which can crack and break if subjected to extreme load amounts. If the axle breaks, it could cause a loss of control, resulting in injuries to the rider. No injuries have been reported in connection with this defect.

Consumers should immediately stop using their lawn tractors and contact Tecumseh for assistance in identifying affected units and arranging free repair if necessary. Affected tractor and transaxle model numbers are located below the tractor seat and on the transaxle housing. The recalled transaxles have a date of manufacture code (DOM) between 4275 and 5047 followed by the letter "G" on the Transaxle ID Label. Consumers can call Tecumseh toll-free at (888) 271-4048 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.tecumsehpower.com.

The recalled product

Product
Lawn Tractors
Manufacturer
Tecumseh Power Co., of Grafton, Wis.
Category
Consumer Product — Lawn Tractors
Hazard
Affected units
21,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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