Kawasaki Motors USA Recalls Engines Used In Lawn and Garden Equipment
Product Recalls - June 27, 2024
Kawasaki Motors USA Issued Recall For Engines In Lawn and Garden Equipment Including Bad Boy Mowers, BigDog, Bobcat, Cub Cadet, Hustler, John Deere and Kubota
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (June 25, 2024) – Kawasaki Motors USA has recalled motors used in popular lawn and garden equipment because they pose a fire and burn hazard.
Affected brands include Bad Boy Mowers, BigDog, Bobcat, Cub Cadet, Hustler, John Deere and Kubota. The recalled engines can overheat and thereby pose a fire and burn hazard.
Around 68,500 affected units were sold. Around 900 were sold in Canada. Kawasaki Motors USA has said that they’ve received eight reports of fires involving the affected engines.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Fires Caused By Faulty Consumer Goods
Accidents involving engines or batteries that overheat may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually quite common. According to Statista, “In 2021, there were around 174,000 highway vehicle fires reported in the United States. This is a slight increase from the previous year, where there were 173,000 highway vehicle fires reported across the country.” Companies should take a number of measures in order to prevent engine fires.
- Companies should use flame-resistant and heat-resistant materials for engines.
- Companies should properly insulate fuel lines and electrical wiring to prevent heat transfer.
- Companies should design effective cooling systems to prevent overheating.
- Companies should perform thorough safety checks on all of their engines.
All companies that manufacture engines and consumer products have a legal obligation to make sure that those products are relatively safe. When a certain engine has a propensity to overheat and catch fire, this could be indicative of a design defect. Generally speaking, companies can be held strictly liable for accidents caused by the inherent design defects associated with their products. Several steps should be taken after any fire caused by an engine.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- A police report of the incident should be created.
- It should be determined if the engine involved was recalled.
- Medical records related to the incident should be preserved.
- An experienced product liability attorney should be contacted.
Injuries sustained from residential fires can be severe and life-altering. Many victims will need to take extensive periods of time off of work. In many cases, victims are left with permanent mobility issues that impact their ability to be gainfully employed or to simply enjoy everyday activities. Any person who is injured by an engine fire may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A product liability attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help After Being Injured In A Engine Fire
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates were deeply concerned to hear about the fires caused by Kawasaki Motors USA engines. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what took place. Safety should always be the first priority for any company that makes lawn and garden equipment.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured by a Kawasaki Motors USA engine? You may have legal recourse. Our team of product liability attorneys is committed to making sure that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.