Kawasaki Fuel Filter, Lawn Mower Engine Recall Issued Due to Fire Hazard

Kawasaki Motors is recalling a hundreds of thousands of lawn mower engines and fuel filters due to a potential risk of fuel leaks, which may pose a potential fire hazard. The recall has also affected thousands of John Deere utility vehicles that feature the same engine components. 

The Kawasaki engine fuel filter recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on November 15, after Kawasaki notified the commission it had received at least 110 reports of fuel leaks from its FH, FR, FS and FX series engines. The reports include at least two fuel leaks in engines that had the fuel filters replaced, but there have been no reports of fires or injuries.

The CPSC and Kawasaki have traced the problem to the fuel filters, which were used in the engines and sold in tune-up kits. The fuel filters found their way into hundreds of thousands of lawn mower engines.

Engines, Tune-up Kits, Utility Vehicles Had Defective Filters

The recall affects about 210,000 Kawasaki FH, FR, FS and FX series engines sold under the brand names Ariens, Bad Boy Mowers, Big Dog, Bob-Cat, Bush Hog, Country Clipper, Cub Cadet, Dixie Chopper, Dixon, DR Power Equipment, Encore, Exmark, Ferris, Gravely, Hustler, Husqvarna, Land Pride, SCAG, Simplicity, Snapper Pro, Tiger Corp, Toro, Worldlawn and Woods. They have 13 to 36 horsepower, are air-cooled with v-twin engines. The word “Kawasaki” and the model numbers are located on top of the engines and a label with the spec and serial numbers is located on the side. A full list of model numbers, specification numbers and serial number ranges are located in the Kawasaki lawn mower engine recall notice.

They were sold between October 2011 and August 2012 for between $2,000 and $10,000 at Kawasaki small engine delars and lawn and garden equipment retailers nationwide.

Also recalled are about 4,340 John Deere TH, TS and TX-model Gator utility vehicles that use the Kawasaki engines. The recalled utility vehicles have serial numbers in the following ranges:

• 1M04X2SJ++M070915 to 1M04X2SJ++M072247
• 1M04X2XC++M070040 to 1M04X2XC++M070213
• 1M04X2XD++M070314 to 1M04X2XD++M072731
• 1M06X4HD++M070049 to 1M06X4HD++M070372

The serial numbers are located on the vertical frame below the driver’s seat. They were sold at John Deere dealerships nationwide from November 2011 to August 2012 for between $6,600 and $9,400.

The recall also includes about 55,000 Kawasaki fuel filters and 1,200 tune-up kits. The fuel filters are translucent white plastic and attach to fuel tubes on Kawasaki engines. Affected filters have “VISU Filter” and a manufacturing date code printed on top. Date codes affected by the recall include 136/11 through 365/11 and 001/12 through 216/12. The recall also includes tune-up kits with part numbers 99969-6189, 99969-6190, 99969-6191, 99969-6196 and 99969-6220.

The filters and tune-up kits were sold at Kawasaki dealers nationwide for between $40 and $70 from August 2011 through August 2012.

Free Repairs Available

Consumers with any of the affected products should stop using them immediately and contact Kawasaki or a Kawasaki dealer for a free repair by calling (866) 836-4463 or by visiting the company’s website at www.kawpower.com, or by sending an email to ffrecall@kmc-usa.com.

Owners of affected John Deere utility vehicles should contact a John Deere dealer to have the fuel filter replaced. The company is in the process of contacting all registered owners of affected vehicles directly. Customers with questions can call Deere and Company at (800) 537-8233 or by visiting the website at www.johndeere.com.