The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·12132·Announced 2012-03-13

Hydro-Gear Recalls Lawn Tractors Due to Brake Failure Crash Hazard

Hydro-Gear is recalling about 2,700 Cub Cadet, MTD Gold, and Troy-Bilt lawn tractors because a drive gear failure can cause brake failure, posing a crash hazard.

What this means for you

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 risk-of-harm product (crash hazard due to brake failure) where no injuries have been reported, which aligns with the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership is recalling approximately 2,700 Cub Cadet, MTD Gold, and Troy-Bilt lawn tractors. The recall involves specific models equipped with Hydro-Gear model 618-0319 and 618-04270B transaxles. Affected Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt tractors have dates of manufacture ranging from December 2010 through March 2011, while MTD Gold tractors can be identified by serial numbers starting with 1L15 or 1L16. The affected transaxles have serial numbers with the first four digits ranging between 0333 and 0348.

The recall is due to a hazard where a drive gear in the lawn tractor's hydrostatic transaxle can fail, causing brake failure. This malfunction poses a crash hazard to consumers. No injuries have been reported in connection with this defect.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lawn tractors and contact Hydro-Gear for instructions on obtaining a repair from an authorized service provider. The tractors were sold at lawn and garden retailers nationwide from January 2011 through January 2012 for between $1,900 and $2,800. For additional information, consumers can call the firm's toll-free number at (888) 848-6038 or visit the websites for Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, MTD, or Hydro-Gear.

The recalled product

Product
Lawn Tractors
Manufacturer
Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership, of Sullivan, Ill.
Category
Consumer Product — Lawn Tractors
Hazard
Affected units
2,700

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · crash

See all →