Toro 2015 TimeCutter fuel filter brittleness fire-hazard recall

## Affected machines About 8,600 (US) + 400 (Canada) **2015 Toro TimeCutter** zero-turn riding mowers. The mowers are red and black with a gray seat. "TORO" is printed on the front and sides; a black-and-white "TIMECUTTER" decal is in front of the operator seat. The model/serial decal is on the frame, under the seat. ### Affected model SKUs and serial-number ranges | Model SKU | Serial number range | |---|---| | 74710 | 315000876 – 315002048 | | 74720 | 315000101 – 315003342 | | 74731 | 315000152 – 315000437 | | 74750 | 315000101 – 315001155 | | 74780 | 315000101 – 315001700 | | 74781 | 315000101 – 315000150 | | 74784 | 315000340 – 315001172 | | 74787 | 315000403 – 315000437 | | 74790 | 315000178 – 315000320, 315001400 – 315001493 | | 74797 | 315000624 – 315000698 | Serial numbers begin with **315** indicating 2015 model year production. ## Issue The **fuel filters** on these mowers can become **brittle and fracture** over time, allowing fuel to leak. A fractured fuel filter near the engine creates a fire hazard. The defect is in the fuel filter material itself — the filter degrades during normal use rather than failing immediately. Owners may not notice anything wrong until the filter actually fractures. Reported field incidents at time of recall: - 5 incidents of fuel leaking - 0 injuries ## What to do 1. Check your mower's model SKU and serial number against the table above. 2. If your mower is in scope, **stop using it immediately** until the fuel filter is replaced. 3. Contact Toro at (844) 521-2384 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT. 4. Owners with registered machines were sent a replacement fuel filter by mail. Owners can install the new filter themselves or take the mower to a Toro dealer for free installation. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because of the fire risk. The brittle-filter failure mode is also a slow-developing one, meaning a mower that has been working fine could begin leaking without warning as the filter ages. ## Class action note A class action lawsuit (filed August 2019) alleges that **2014-model TimeCutter mowers** have the same fuel filter defect but were not covered by the 2015 official CPSC recall. This bulletin scope follows the official recall (2015 model year only). Owners of 2014-model TimeCutters who experienced fuel leaks or fires may want to consult the lawsuit's status. ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Toro Recalls TimeCutter Riding Mowers Due to Fire Hazard," November 24, 2015. - Sold at Home Depot and other hardware, lawn-and-garden stores nationwide from November 2014 through October 2015 for about $3,400. ## Library notes The ten affected SKUs (74710, 74720, 74731, 74750, 74780, 74781, 74784, 74787, 74790, 74797) are added in this migration as new rows in a 'TimeCutter Legacy' model_series, distinct from the current 'TimeCutter' and 'TimeCutter MAX' lines in the library. Year range 2014-2015 reflects the production window (November 2014 - October 2015). These SKUs identify physical model variations (deck size, engine, feature set) within the TimeCutter line. Toro typically markets them by deck size and feature set ("TimeCutter MyRIDE 50") rather than SKU, so owners may need to check the under-seat decal to find their SKU.