John Deere EZTrak Z445 / Z645 / Z655 / Z665 fuel hose may have been cut during manufacturing (CPSC 16-717)

## Affected machines About 150 John Deere EZTrak zero-turn mowers built **August 10 - September 9, 2015** with serial numbers beginning **1GXZ**. The mowers are green and yellow with yellow wheels. | Model | Description | |---|---| | Z445 | EZTrak Z400 Series, residential ZT | | Z645 | EZTrak Z600 Series, residential ZT | | Z655 | EZTrak Z600 Series, residential ZT | | Z665 | EZTrak Z600 Series, residential ZT | The model number is on the front of the machine near the operator footrest. The serial number is located behind the seat, in front of the engine. The complete list of affected serial numbers is on John Deere's website (linked below). ## Issue A fuel hose could have been **cut during manufacturing**. Even a small cut can develop into a fuel leak over time as the hose ages and flexes during normal operation, and any fuel leak in the engine bay creates a fire hazard. The recall was preventive — Deere identified four cut fuel hoses during the manufacturing process, which prompted the broader recall of the whole production window even though no field failures or injuries had been reported. ## What to do 1. Check your mower's model and serial number. Only mowers with serial numbers beginning **1GXZ** are in scope. 2. If your mower is in scope, **stop using it immediately** and contact your authorized John Deere dealer for the free repair. 3. Deere's recall hotline is (800) 537-8233. 4. Registered owners were contacted directly at the time of recall. If you bought the mower used, check the serial number yourself against the firm's published list. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because of the fire risk. Even though no incidents were reported in the field, a fuel hose cut during manufacturing is a latent defect that can fail unpredictably. ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, recall 16-717, "John Deere Recalls Zero Turn Lawn Mowers," December 22, 2015. - Sold at John Deere independent dealers nationwide from August 2015 through November 2015 for between $4,800 and $6,500. ## Library notes The Z445, Z645, Z655, and Z665 rows are added in this same migration since the EZTrak generation had not previously been in the library. These models are residential predecessors to the current Z500/Z600/Z700 ZTrak line. Z445 ran approximately 2008-2015; Z645/Z655/Z665 ran approximately 2013-2017. While only the August-September 2015 production window is recalled, the model rows cover the full production run so the bulletin attaches to the correct base models. Owners reading the bulletin should rely on the serial-number scope (1GXZ-prefix only) rather than the model-row year range to determine whether their machine is affected.