Kubota SZ19 / SZ22 / SZ26 stand-on mower steering damper crash hazard recall (CPSC 24-706)

## Affected machines This bulletin covers the **Kubota** portion of CPSC recall 24-706. About 830 total units across both Bobcat and Kubota brands; the Kubota portion is a subset of that. ### Affected Kubota models | Model | Deck | Series | |---|---|---| | SZ19-36 | 36" | SZ Stand-On Series | | SZ22-48 | 48" | SZ Stand-On Series | | SZ22-52 | 52" | SZ Stand-On Series | | SZ26-52 | 52" | SZ Stand-On Series | | SZ26-61 | 61" | SZ Stand-On Series | The recalled mowers are orange and black with the model on the side and the data plate on the lower frame. The Bobcat sibling models in the same recall (ZS4000-52, ZS4000-61, ZS6000-52, ZS6000-61) are not covered by this bulletin since Bobcat is not currently in the TractorNuity manufacturers table. ## Issue The **steering arm dampers** installed on the mower's steering system can prevent the control levers from returning to the neutral position when the operator releases them. As a related symptom, the **Operator Presence switch may fail to function** as designed — the switch normally cuts power to the blades and forward motion if the operator steps off the platform, but with the damper interaction this safety interlock can be defeated. The combination creates two related hazards: - **Crash hazard**: a stand-on mower whose levers don't return to neutral can continue moving even when the operator intends to stop. - **Laceration hazard**: blades can continue rotating after the operator steps off, exposing them or bystanders to a moving cutter deck. Reported field incidents at time of recall: not separately published in the CPSC notice; the recall was issued as a Recall Alert. ## What to do 1. Check your model number against the table above. The model number is on the side of the mower and on the data plate on the lower frame. 2. If your mower is in scope, **stop using it immediately**. 3. Contact Kubota Tractor Corporation at (888) 458-2682 (888-4KUBOTA) Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET. Or visit https://www.kubotausa.com/service-support/safety/safety-notices. 4. Free dealer repair through an authorized Kubota dealer. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because the failure mode involves both unintended motion (crash) and live blades on an unmanned platform (laceration). The Operator Presence switch is a primary safety interlock on stand-on mowers, and a defeat of that interlock is among the most serious failure modes a stand-on can exhibit. ## Related bulletins The Bobcat portion of this same recall (ZS4000 / ZS6000) is not currently covered by a TractorNuity bulletin since Bobcat is not in the manufacturers table. If Bobcat (Doosan Bobcat North America) is added in the future, a sibling bulletin should be created (TNB02600038 has been reserved for this purpose). ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Doosan Bobcat North America Recalls Bobcat and Kubota Stand-On Zero Turn Lawnmowers Due to Crash and Laceration Hazard (Recall Alert)," March 2024. - Kubota Safety Notices page: https://www.kubotausa.com/service-support/safety/safety-notices ## Library notes The five affected Kubota SZ models (SZ19-36, SZ22-48, SZ22-52, SZ26-52, SZ26-61) are added in this same migration as new equipment_models rows in the new 'stand-on-mower' category. This migration also creates the 'stand-on-mower' category itself, which had not previously existed in the TractorNuity library.