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

## Affected machines This bulletin covers the **Ariens** portion of CPSC recall 13-040. The recall is **engine-specific**, not mower-specific. Ariens 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**. Engines were also sold separately as service replacements and tune-up kits (the related fuel-filter-only recall is CPSC 13-041; this bulletin focuses on the engine recall). Identification: - "Kawasaki" and the engine model number are printed on the **top of the engine**. - The **spec and serial numbers** are on a label on **one side of the engine**. - The full table of model / spec / serial-number ranges is published on Kawasaki's product-recall page (linked below). ### Affected Ariens models This bulletin attaches to the Ariens commercial-grade ZT mower lines that were in production during the Oct 2011 - Aug 2012 window: | Model line | Production window | Likely engine families | |---|---|---| | Zoom 34 / 42 / 50 | 2008-2018 | FR / FS series | | Zoom XL 54 / 60 | 2010-2018 | FR / FX series | | MAX Zoom 60 | 2010-2014 | FX series | Owners should match by the engine model and serial number on the engine, not by the mower model name alone — only mowers with a Kawasaki engine in the recalled production window are in scope. ## 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. The same defect affected: - Loose VISU fuel filters (date codes 136/11 through 365/11 and 001/12 through 216/12 — covered by the parts-only recall CPSC 13-041) - Engine tune-up kits with part numbers 99969-6189, 99969-6190, 99969-6191, 99969-6196, 99969-6220 - Pre-installed filters on FH / FR / FS / FX engines manufactured during the recall window (this recall, CPSC 13-040) 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 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET, or your local Ariens 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 This is one of 11 brand-specific sibling bulletins for CPSC 13-040. The full set of in-library siblings: | Bulletin | Brand | |---|---| | **TNB02600050** | Ariens (this bulletin) | | **TNB02600051** | Bad Boy | | **TNB02600052** | Bobcat (then "Bob-Cat") | | **TNB02600053** | Cub Cadet | | TNB02600054 | Exmark (migration 070) | | TNB02600055 | Ferris (migration 070) | | TNB02600056 | Husqvarna (migration 070) | | TNB02600057 | SCAG (migration 070) | | TNB02600058 | Toro (migration 070) | | TNB02600059 | BigDog (migration 071) | | TNB02600060 | Hustler (migration 071) | Other brands in CPSC 13-040 not currently in the TractorNuity library: Bush Hog, Country Clipper, Dixie Chopper, Dixon, DR Power Equipment, Encore, Gravely, Land Pride, Simplicity, Snapper Pro, Tiger Corp, Worldlawn, Woods. Sibling bulletins for those should be created when the brands are added. The companion fuel-filter parts-only recall **CPSC 13-041** covers loose VISU filters and tune-up kits sold separately at Kawasaki dealers; if a future TractorNuity feature tracks parts (rather than mowers), that recall would warrant its own bulletin. ## 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 - AriensCo safety recall page: https://www.ariensco.com/safetyrecall ## Library notes This bulletin uses the existing Ariens Zoom / Zoom XL / MAX Zoom rows (added in migration 068) which span 2008-2018 production windows that overlap the recall production window.