John Deere 2013 ROPS spring-pin recall — 19 compact utility tractor models

## Affected machines About 7,000 John Deere compact utility tractors across **19 models** in the 1, 2, 3, and 4 series, all built between **February 2013 and July 2013**. The tractors are green and yellow with a foldable black metal rollover protection bar that extends above the operator's head. The model number is on the hood. The serial number is on the right-hand side of the frame above the front axle. ### Affected serial-number ranges | Model | Serial range | Notes | |---|---|---| | 1023E | `1LV1023EXXX310006 – 1LV1023EXXX310083` | | | 1025R | `1LV1025RXXX111788 – 1LV1025RXXX116214` | Largest batch (~5,000 units) | | 2025R | `1LV2025RXXX110121 – 1LV2025RXXX110202` | First-generation MY13 | | 2032R | `1LV2032RXXX110008 – 1LV2032RXXX110283` | First-generation MY13 (~300 units) | | 2320H | `1LV2320HXXX712151 – 1LV2320HXXX712593` | End-of-line; 2 series sunset | | 2520H | `1LV2520HXXX811702 – 1LV2520HXXX811703` | Only 2 units affected | | 2720H | `1LV2720HLCH511543` | Only 1 unit affected | | 3320H | `1LV3320HXXX910198 – 1LV3320HXXX910700` | | | 3320P | `1LV3320PXXX910129 – 1LV3320PXXX910299` | | | 3520H | `1LV3520HXXX910239 – 1LV3520HXXX910579` | | | 3520P | `1LV3520PXXX910098 – 1LV3520PXXX910188` | | | 3720H | `1LV3720HXXX910181 – 1LV3720HXXX910429` | | | 4120H | `1LV4120HXXX916152 – 1LV4120HXXX916350` | | | 4120P | `1LV4120PXXX916013 – 1LV4120PXXX916014` | Only 2 units affected | | 4320H | `1LV4320HXXX916166 – 1LV4320HXXX916420` | | | 4320P | `1LV4320PXXX916036 – 1LV4320PXXX916112` | | | 4520H | `1LV4520HXXX916127 – 1LV4520HXXX916276` | | | 4520P | `1LV4520PXXX916034 – 1LV4520PXXX916135` | | | 4720H | `1LV4720HXXX916129 – 1LV4720HXXX916919` | | Suffix conventions: **H** = HST (hydrostatic), **P** = PowrReverser. The "XXX" represents three plant-code characters that vary per build location — match the numeric portion against the ranges. ## Issue The defective parts are the small **spring locking pins** that retain the larger ROPS hinge pins, **not the ROPS hinge pins themselves**. Per the John Deere safety notice mailed to registered owners: > The spring locking pins ... may not have been manufactured to specification and could break. If a spring pin breaks during normal use, the corresponding ROPS hinge pin can work free over time. If a rollover then occurs with the hinge pin already loose or dislodged, the ROPS may not stay in its locked-up position and may fail to protect the operator. At the time of recall, John Deere had received three reports of broken spring-locking pins in the field and had identified two more failed pins during manufacturing. **No injuries had been reported.** The recall was preventive. ## What to do 1. Check your tractor's model and serial number against the table above. 2. If your tractor is in scope, **check the spring locking pins frequently** until the dealer repair is complete. 3. Contact your authorized John Deere dealer to schedule the free repair under the Product Improvement Program (PIP). 4. The repair is straightforward — replacement of the small spring locking pins (described by one owner as "the cotter pins that keep the larger pins in place") with parts manufactured to specification. Expect the work to be quick once the parts are on hand. 5. Registered owners were directly contacted by Deere & Company at the time of recall. If you bought your tractor used, you may not have received a notice — checking the model and serial number against the table above is the only reliable way to know. 6. The Deere & Company recall hotline is (800) 537-8233. ## Hazard A foldable ROPS that is no longer reliably locked in the deployed position cannot protect the operator in a rollover. Severity is rated **critical** because rollover events with a compromised ROPS can be fatal. ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, recall 13-747, "John Deere Recalls Compact Utility Tractors Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death," August 14, 2013. - Green Tractor Talk thread "John Deere Recalls 1,2,3,& 4 series tractors for Roll Over Protection System" with full serial range list and dealer-letter excerpts describing the PIP rollout. ## Library notes **Distinct from TNB02600003.** TNB02600003 covers a 2017 recall on the **ROPS retaining bolts** of 1023E and 1025R units built in 2017 — a different recall affecting different parts on a different production window. The 2013 spring-pin recall (this bulletin) and the 2017 retaining-bolt recall (TNB02600003) are independent CPSC actions; an owner checking ROPS-related recalls should check both windows. **Small-batch attachments noted.** The 2520H, 2720H, and 4120P had very small affected counts (1-2 units each) — these are end-of-line stragglers built during the Feb-July 2013 window as the new 2-series (2025R/2032R) was launching to replace the 2520/2720. The bulletin attaches to those tractor rows because affected owners exist, but the small counts mean almost any 2520/2720/4120P owner is unlikely to be affected. **MY13-MY15 2-Series rows added in this migration.** The first-generation 2025R (MY13-MY15) and 2032R (MY13-MY15) are added in this same migration so the bulletin can attach to them. These are distinct rows from the existing 2025R (year_start=2016), 2032R (MY16), and 2032R (MY17+) entries.