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

## Affected machines This bulletin covers the **Simplicity** portion of CPSC recall 13-040. Simplicity is a Briggs & Stratton brand of residential and commercial outdoor power equipment, sister brand to Ferris and Snapper Pro. CPSC 13-040 explicitly grouped Simplicity, Ferris, and Snapper Pro in shared engine table rows - the three Briggs & Stratton commercial brands sourced engines from common Kawasaki shipments in the recall window. Per the standing rule that bulletins are always brand-specific, Simplicity gets its own sibling bulletin even though the engine SN scope overlaps with the Ferris and Snapper Pro siblings. The recall is **engine-specific**, not mower-specific. Simplicity mowers in scope are those with a Kawasaki FS-, FX-series air-cooled v-twin engine **manufactured October 2011 - August 2012**. ### Affected engine specs (Ferris/Snapper Pro/Simplicity shared portion of CPSC 13-040 table) | Engine model | Spec | Serial range | |---|---|---| | FS691V | AS14 | FS691VA07498 - FS691VA13372 | | FX801V | AS09 | FX801VA26410 - FX801VA35509 | These two engine rows in the CPSC 13-040 table are shared across Ferris, Snapper Pro, and Simplicity branding. ### Affected Simplicity models This bulletin attaches to representative Simplicity legacy zero-turn mower SKUs from the 2011-2013 production window: Citation, Champion, and Cobalt. Owners should match by engine model and serial number against Kawasaki's published list - not by mower model alone. ## 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 (combined across all 24 affected brands): - 110 fuel-leak reports - 0 injuries ## What to do 1. Identify the engine model on top of your engine. Confirm it is an 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 Simplicity 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 **TNB02600055** (Ferris) and **TNB02600103** (Snapper Pro) are the closely-related sibling bulletins - the engine SN ranges are partially shared across all three brands. Other CPSC 13-040 sibling bulletins: TNB02600050 (Ariens), TNB02600051 (Bad Boy), TNB02600052 (Bobcat), TNB02600053 (Cub Cadet), TNB02600054 (Exmark), TNB02600056 (Husqvarna), TNB02600057 (SCAG), TNB02600058 (Toro), TNB02600059 (BigDog), TNB02600060 (Hustler), TNB02600066 (Gravely), TNB02600095 (Bush Hog), TNB02600096 (Country Clipper), TNB02600097 (Dixie Chopper), TNB02600098 (Dixon), TNB02600099 (DR Power), TNB02600100 (Encore), TNB02600101 (Land Pride), **TNB02600102** (this bulletin), TNB02600104 (Woods), TNB02600105 (Worldlawn). ## 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 - Simplicity: https://www.simplicitymfg.com