John Deere ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers with Kawasaki Engines Recalled Over Fire Hazard

Product Recalls - January 17, 2025

John Deere ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers with Kawasaki Engines Recalled By Kawasaki Motors USA Over Fire Hazard

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (January 15, 2025) – John Deere ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers with Kawasaki Engines have been recalled because they can inadvertently catch fire.

The recall was issued on January 2, 2025. Around 39,000 units were sold before the recall, including 2,600 units sold in Canada.

According to the recall notice by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the voltage regulator on the motor can fail either mid-use or while the mower is being stored.

This can lead to the engine overheating, which may result in a fire. Numerous models, start serial numbers, and end serial numbers were part of the recall.

Kawasaki has received a report of five fires relating to the mowers. They’ve also received 26 reports of melting and/or smoking engines.

There have not been any injuries reported at this time. The John Deere ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers were sold at authorized John Deere dealers nationwide.

Liability for Injuries Caused by Lawnmowers

Lawnmower fires are actually much more common than many people realize. According to the Royal Examiner, “Fire in lawn mowers is not a commonly acknowledged problem.  Any lawn mower, electric or gas, can catch fire. As with any powerful tool, many things can go wrong. Nearly every mower brand has had a recall due to fire potential. In 2011, John Deere recalled mowers after cooling fans failed, causing a reported 83 fires.” There are number of reasons that the lawnmower may inadvertently start a fire.

• A lawnmower may allow for a buildup of accumulated dry grass, relieves near the engine muffler.
• A malfunction with the engine in a lawnmower may cause parts to overheat and ignite surrounding materials.
• A lawnmower engine may leak gasoline from the tank near the carburetor, thereby causing a fire.
• Damaged or exposed wiring in a lawnmower could cause surrounding materials to catch fire.

Companies that create lawn mowers have a legal obligation to ensure that they are reasonably safe and abide by all the relevant safety standards. They have to take into consideration all of the ways that a lawnmower will be used and the conditions that it will be used in. Fires are a known risk for any gas-powered mower. There is also a risk if the lawnmower is electric. If a fire was the result of a defect with the lawnmower or its component parts, there could be numerous sources of liability. This may include the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. Companies that create lawnmowers should take several steps in order to prevent fires.

• Lawnmower companies should ensure proper heat shielding around the engine and muffler.
• Lawnmower companies should design. Efficient cooling systems to prevent heat buildup during operation.
• Lawnmower companies should use heat-resistant materials for fuel tanks.
• Lawnmower companies should install spark arresters on the muffler.
• Lawnmower companies should ensure that their products are rigorously tested and compliant with safety standards.

The vast majority of fires involving lawnmowers and other consumer products are preventable. They tend to occur when companies take shortcuts in terms of safety. This could include instances where companies use cheaper materials to build key components such as the engine. When a company has actual or constructive notice that their device could be dangerous. They have a legal obligation to take action. When a company brings a product to market and sells it in a dangerous condition, they could be held liable in the event of an injury caused by that product.

Getting Legal Help for Fires Caused by Lawnmowers

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates were very concerned to hear about the safety issues with the John Deere ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers. This is not the first time that John Deere mowers have been recalled. It is our sincere hope that the company will take steps to avoid producing and selling other products that may have similar design failures. Profit should never be valued above the safety of a product.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a fire caused by a defective lawnmower? You may have legal recourse. Our team of product liability attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We have decades of experience helping accident victims get the support in justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your particular situation, we are here to help you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.