John Deere Gator RSX850i fire hazard from fuel line separation and oil filter defect (CPSC 13-088 + Feb 2013 expansion)

## Affected machines About **4,650-4,700** John Deere Gator RSX850i recreational utility vehicles manufactured **May 2012 - October 2012**. The vehicles have **side-by-side seating for two people** and were available in: - Realtree Hardwoods HD Camo - Olive and black - Traditional green and yellow **RSX850i** is printed on the hood. The serial number is on the **rear frame above the receiver hitch**. ### Affected models and serial-number ranges | Model | Serial range | |---|---| | RSX850i Base | 1M0850TB++M010009 – 1M0850TB++M010778 | | RSX850i Sport | 1M0850TS++M010001 – 1M0850TS++M012077 | | RSX850i Trail | 1M0850TT++M010001 – 1M0850TT++M012867 | The `++` represents two characters that vary by build configuration. ## Issue: two related defects on the same population This bulletin covers **two distinct defects** that affected the same RSX850i production population. Owners affected by either should address both at the same John Deere dealer visit. ### Defect 1 — Fuel line separation (CPSC 13-088, January 10, 2013) The **fuel line can separate**, allowing fuel to leak. Fuel leaking near the hot engine of a recreational UTV creates a fire hazard. Reported incidents at recall time: - 3 reports of separated fuel lines resulting in fires - 0 injuries ### Defect 2 — Oil filter pinhole defect (February 2013 expansion) A separate engine-supplier defect was added to the recall scope on **February 14, 2013**. The oil filters on the recalled engines were **not manufactured to specification**, resulting in **pinholes and cracks** that allow oil to leak. Oil leaking onto a hot engine or exhaust creates a fire hazard. Reported incidents at the February 2013 expansion: - 4 additional reports of fires due to the oil filter defect - 0 injuries ## What to do 1. Find your model on the hood and the serial number on the rear frame above the receiver hitch. 2. Check your model and serial number against the table above. 3. If your Gator is in scope, **stop using it immediately**. 4. Contact a John Deere dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. John Deere was contacting all registered owners directly at recall time. 5. Call John Deere customer service at (800) 537-8233, or visit https://www.deere.com. 6. Free dealer inspection and repair for both the fuel line and the oil filter. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because of the fire risk. The combined incident count (3 fuel-line fires + 4 oil filter fires = 7 total fires on a ~4,700-unit population) represents an unusually high in-field failure rate for a recreational UTV. ## Related bulletins - **TNB02600063** — CPSC 13-706 (Nov 2012) JD TH/TS/TX Gator Kawasaki fuel filter recall. Different JD UTV models, different engines, different defect family — but related in time and scope. The XUV825 / XUV855 (Crossover Gator, CPSC 2018 steering loss) is a separate recall on different SKUs that may warrant a future bulletin if those models are added to the library. ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "John Deere Recalls Gator Utility Vehicles Due to Fire Hazard," recall 13-088, January 10, 2013. - February 14, 2013 expansion (oil filter defect): https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2013/John-Deere-Recalls-Gator-Utility-Vehicles - John Deere recall information: https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/recall-information/ ## Library notes The three RSX850i SKUs (Base, Sport, Trail) are added in this same migration as new equipment_models rows in the 'Recreational UTV' series under the John Deere manufacturer. The RSX850i was discontinued around 2017 and replaced by the XUV crossover line.