John Deere XUV835 throttle cable melt crash hazard (CPSC September 4, 2019)

## Affected machines About **19,730 US units** (plus 840 in Canada) of John Deere **XUV835** Gator utility vehicles. The model number **"XUV835"** is printed on the hood. **"John Deere"** and **"Gator"** are printed on the cargo box. The serial number is on the **frame directly above the right front tire** and begins with **1M0835**. The recalled vehicles were sold in **green and yellow, olive drab, and camouflage**, and have side-by-side seating for two or three people, depending on the seat option. The XUV835 is the successor to the XUV825/855 Crossover Gator covered by TNB02600089 - it replaced the XUV825/855 in the lineup starting November 2017. ### Production / sales window Sold at **John Deere dealers nationwide** from **November 2017 through July 2019** for **$13,860 to $22,930**. Manufactured in the U.S. ## Issue The **plastic sheathing on the throttle cable can melt** due to improper routing, causing the throttle to stick. This could result in the operator not being able to stop the vehicle, posing a crash hazard. Improper routing of the throttle cable places the cable in proximity to a heat source (typically the exhaust system) where engine bay temperatures during sustained operation can exceed the melting point of the cable's plastic sheathing. As the sheathing melts, the cable can bind within its housing or fuse to adjacent surfaces, leaving the throttle stuck in a partially-open or fully-open position. This is the same general failure class as TNB02600090 (XUV590 powertrain throttle stick) - the operator loses the ability to stop the vehicle through normal throttle release. The defect mechanism is different (cable routing vs powertrain hardware looseness) but the operational consequence is similar. The remedy involves **dealer inspection of cable routing and re-routing as needed**. The cable itself is typically not damaged on units inspected before manifestation; the inspection prevents the defect from progressing. Reported field incidents at recall time: - 9 incidents - 0 injuries The recall was conducted under CPSC's **Fast Track Recall** process. John Deere directly contacted all known purchasers. ## What to do 1. Find the **serial number on the frame above the right front tire** and confirm it begins with **1M0835**. 2. Check your serial number against the published list at https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/recall-information/. 3. If your Gator is in scope, **stop using it immediately**. 4. Contact your **authorized John Deere dealer** for free inspection and repair of improperly routed throttle cables. 5. Or call Deere & Company at **800-537-8233**. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical**. While no injuries had been reported at recall time, the failure mode (operator cannot stop the vehicle) on a UTV operating at speed is a direct safety-critical failure mode. The 9 manifested incidents on a ~20,570 combined US+Canada population (~0.04% rate) confirm the defect is active in the field. This severity rating matches the precedent set by TNB02600089 (steering shaft, also 9 incidents, also 0 injuries at recall time, also vehicle-control-loss class). ## Related bulletins - **TNB02600089** - CPSC December 2017 XUV825/855 steering shaft recall. Predecessor Crossover generation, different defect, same vehicle-control-loss hazard class. - **TNB02600090** - CPSC September 2018 XUV590/590 S4 powertrain throttle stick recall. Smaller XUV class, similar throttle-stick failure mode. - **TNB02600014, TNB02600015, TNB02600026, TNB02600028** - Various JD Kawasaki engine recalls on mowers. Unrelated defect family but indicative of the broader recall activity in the JD power equipment line during this era. ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Gator Utility Vehicles Recalled by John Deere Due to Crash Hazard (Recall Alert)," September 4, 2019. - Manufacturer: Deere & Company, of Moline, Illinois. - John Deere recall page: https://www.deere.com/en/parts-and-service/recall-information/