July 6, 2005
Tecumseh is recalling about 21,000 lawn tractors. The axles on these lawn tractors can crack and break if subject to extreme load amounts. Should the axle break, it could cause a loss of control and result in injuries to the rider.
These lawn tractors have a 6-speed MST206-545C Peerless transaxle and a 17.5, 18, 18.5 or 19 horsepower engine. The recalled tractor and transaxle model number information is 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, which can be found on the Transaxle ID Label.
| BRAND NAME | COLOR | HP | RETAILER | TRACTOR MODEL NO. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poulan Pro | Black | 18.5 | Various Hardware Dealers | 96012000300 |
| Poulan | Black | 17.5 | Various Hardware Dealers | 96012001100 |
| Poulan Pro | Black | 19 | Various Hardware Dealers | 96012001700 |
| Poulan Pro | Black | 18.5 | Various Hardware Dealers | 96012002700 |
| Southern States | Red | 17.5 | Southern States Dealers | 96012002200 |
| Poulan Pro | Black | 18 | The Home Depot | 96016000200 |
| Craftsman | Grey | 18 | Orchard Supply Hardware | 275390 |
The tractors were sold at home and hardware stores nationwide from December 2004 through May 2005 for between $750 and $1,300.
Consumers should immediately stop using their lawn tractor, and contact Tecumseh for assistance in identifying affected units, and free repair if necessary.
Consumer Contact: Call Tecumseh toll-free at (888) 271-4048 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit Tecumsehs Web site at www.tecumsehpower.com.
The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
