Exmark fire-hazard recall: Kawasaki FH / FR / FS / FX engine fuel filter (CPSC 13-040)

## Affected machines This bulletin covers the **Exmark** portion of CPSC recall 13-040. The recall is **engine-specific**, not mower-specific. Exmark mowers in scope are those with a Kawasaki FH-, FR-, FS-, or FX-series air-cooled v-twin engine (13-36 hp) **manufactured October 2011 - August 2012**. Owners should match by the engine model and serial number on the engine, not by the mower model name alone. ### Affected Exmark models | Model line | Production window | Likely engine families | |---|---|---| | Vantage X 48 / 52 / 60 | 2010-present | FX series (commercial stand-on) | | Vantage S 36 / 48 | 2012-present | FS / FX series | Exmark used Kawasaki engines extensively on commercial machines in this era. The Lazer Z commercial line was also primarily Kawasaki-powered, but the current TractorNuity Lazer Z rows (Lazer Z S / X / E series, added in migration 065) start at 2017+ production and post-date the recall window. The pre-2017 Lazer Z generation is not currently represented in the library and is therefore not attached to this bulletin; if those legacy rows are added in a future migration, this bulletin should be re-attached. ## Issue The **fuel filter** on the affected Kawasaki engines is a white translucent plastic VISU-brand filter that can become **brittle and crack**, allowing fuel to leak. Fuel leaking near a hot engine creates a fire hazard. Reported field incidents at time of recall: - 110 fuel-leak reports - 0 injuries ## What to do 1. Identify the engine model on top of your engine. Confirm it is an FH-, FR-, FS-, or FX-series Kawasaki. 2. Check the engine's spec and serial number against Kawasaki's published list at https://www.kawasakienginesusa.com/product-recall.html 3. If your engine is in scope, **stop using the mower immediately**. 4. Contact Kawasaki Motors USA toll-free at (866) 836-4463, or your local Exmark dealer. 5. Free dealer repair (fuel filter replacement). ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because of the fire risk from a leaking fuel filter on a hot engine. ## Related bulletins CPSC 13-040 sibling bulletins: TNB02600050 (Ariens), TNB02600051 (Bad Boy), TNB02600052 (Bobcat / Bob-Cat), TNB02600053 (Cub Cadet), **TNB02600054** (this bulletin), TNB02600055 (Ferris), TNB02600056 (Husqvarna), TNB02600057 (SCAG), TNB02600058 (Toro), TNB02600059 (BigDog), TNB02600060 (Hustler). Exmark also has additional recall bulletins: **TNB02600041** (CPSC 2014 Quest ZRT steering recall) and **TNB02600042** (CPSC 2015 Quest QTS fuel filter brittleness — note this is a different fuel-filter recall on a different filter family from CPSC 13-040). ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Kawasaki Motors Recalls Lawn Mower Engines Due to Fire Hazard," recall 13-040, November 15, 2012. - Kawasaki product recall page: https://www.kawasakienginesusa.com/product-recall.html - Exmark recall page: https://www.exmark.com/service/safety/recalls