John Deere Crossover Gator XUV825/855 steering shaft separation crash hazard (CPSC December 21, 2017, #18-709)

## Affected machines About **68,300 US units** of John Deere **Crossover Gator** utility vehicles, in four model variants: | Model | Configuration | |---|---| | XUV825 | Two-passenger gas | | XUV825 S4 | Four-passenger gas | | XUV855 | Two-passenger diesel | | XUV855 S4 | Four-passenger diesel | **Only units equipped with power steering are in scope.** Non-power-steering variants are not affected. The model number and **"John Deere"** are printed on the side of the vehicle. The serial number is on the **passenger side of the frame under the cargo box** and begins with **1M0825** or **1M0855**. ### Production / sales window Sold at **John Deere dealers nationwide** from **March 2012 through November 2017** for **$13,400 to $16,100**. Manufactured by Deere & Company, Moline, Illinois. This is the largest in-scope JD Gator UTV recall in the TractorNuity library by units affected (~68,300). ## Issue The **steering shaft can separate from the steering rack assembly**, resulting in **loss of vehicle steering control**, posing a crash hazard. The steering shaft connects the steering wheel to the steering rack via a coupling joint. On the affected units, this coupling can fail and allow the shaft to fully disconnect from the rack — at which point the steering wheel turns freely without producing any wheel response. The driver retains throttle and brake control but has no steering authority. This is a manufacturing/assembly defect, not a wear-out issue — the failure can occur on a low-mileage vehicle without warning. The remedy involves **inspection and installation of a retaining bracket** that prevents the shaft-to-rack coupling from separating. Per dealer reports the inspection-plus-bracket repair is approximately a 20-minute job; some dealers offered to pick up and return the vehicle at no charge. Reported field incidents at recall time: - 9 reports of steering loss - 0 injuries The recall was conducted under CPSC's **Fast Track Recall** process. John Deere directly contacted purchasers of recalled units rather than relying solely on the CPSC notice. ## What to do 1. Find the **serial number on the passenger side of the frame under the cargo box** and confirm it begins with **1M0825** or **1M0855**. 2. Confirm your unit is **equipped with power steering** (non-PS units are not affected). 3. Check your serial number against the published list at https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/recall-information/. 4. If your Gator is in scope, **stop using it immediately**. 5. Contact your **authorized John Deere dealer** for free repair (bracket installation). 6. Or call Deere & Company at **800-537-8233** Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET, Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical**. Loss of steering on a UTV operating at speed (Crossover Gator class can reach 25-44 mph depending on variant) is a direct safety-critical failure mode — even with 0 injuries reported at recall time, the consequence of a single steering separation event during cornering or on rough terrain is a high-energy crash. This severity rating matches the precedent set by TNB02600087 (Intimidator universal joint brake-line sever, also vehicle-control-loss class with 0 injuries at recall). ## Related bulletins - **TNB02600090** - CPSC September 2018 JD XUV590/590 S4 powertrain throttle stick recall. Different defect, related Gator UTV family. - **TNB02600091** - CPSC September 2019 JD XUV835 throttle cable melt recall. Different defect, succeeding Crossover Gator generation (XUV835 replaced XUV825/855 in the lineup). - **TNB02600063** - CPSC 13-706 JD TH/TS/TX Gator Kawasaki fuel filter recall. Different Gator family (work series). - **TNB02600064** - CPSC 13-088 JD Gator RSX850i fuel line / oil filter recall. Different Gator family (recreational series). ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "John Deere Recalls Crossover Gator Utility Vehicles Due to Crash Hazard (Recall Alert)," December 21, 2017 (CPSC #18-709). - Manufacturer: Deere & Company, of Moline, Illinois. - John Deere recall page: https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/recall-information/