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Deere & Company Recalls Gator Utility Vehicles

Reported: March 20, 2001 Initiated: March 20, 2001 #01511

Deere & Company (John Deere) issued this CPSC recall on March 20, 2001. Classified as Moderate severity. The recall was issued because: Fire & Fire-Related Burn. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #01511) was formally reported on March 20, 2001. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Deere & Company (John Deere) is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The documented reason for this recall is: Fire & Fire-Related Burn Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 25 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

Unknown

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

Deere & Company Recalls Gator Utility Vehicles Recall Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 March 20, 2001 Alert #01-511 CPSC, Deere & Company Recall Gator Utility Vehicles PRODUCT: Utility Vehicles - Deere & Company, of Moline, Ill., is recalling about 550 Gator Utility Vehicles. The recalled models include the 4X2 Gators, 6X4 Gators, and Turf Gators manufactured between October 2000 and November 2000. The off-road vehicles are four- or six-wheeled and have the model number painted on the side of a cargo box, which is attached to the back of the vehicle. The utility vehicles were sold through authorized John Deere Dealers nationwide from November 2000 through February 2001 for between $6,000 and $10,000. PROBLEM: During manufacturing, an extra internal vent line was attached to the plastic vent fitting on some fuel tanks. If the fuel inside the gas tank expands, it can leak out through the extra vent line and onto the ground, presenting fire and burn hazards. INCIDENTS/INJURIES:Deere & Company has received three reports of fuel leaks. No fires or injuries have been reported. WHAT TO DO:Stop using the vehicle immediately. If it is stored inside, push the vehicle outside to a well-ventilated area and loosen the fuel cap (one-quarter turn) to equalize pressure. Consumers should call the John Deere Dealer where the vehicle was purchased, to get a free inspection and repair. For more information, call Deere & Company toll- free at (800) 537-8233 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Deere & Company has sent notices to known purchasers.

Reason for Recall

Fire & Fire-Related Burn

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 01511
Date reported March 20, 2001
Date initiated March 20, 2001
Recalling firm Deere & Company (John Deere)
Units affected Not disclosed
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Deere & Company Recalls Gator Utility Vehicles Recall Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 March 20, 2001 Alert #01-511 CPSC, Deere & Company Recall Gator Utility Vehicles PRODUCT: Utility Vehicles - Deere & Company, of Moline, Ill., is recalling about 550 Gator Utility Vehicles. The recalled models include the 4X2 Gators, 6X4 Gators, and Turf Gators manufactured between October 2000 and November 2000. The off-road vehicles are four- or six-wheeled and have the model number painted on the side of a cargo box, which is attached to the back of the vehicle. The utility vehicles were sold through authorized John Deere Dealers nationwide from November 2000 through February 2001 for between $6,000 and $10,000. PROBLEM: During manufacturing, an extra internal vent line was attached to the plastic vent fitting on some fuel tanks. If the fuel inside the gas tank expands, it can leak out through the extra vent line and onto the ground, presenting fire and burn hazards. INCIDENTS/INJURIES:Deere & Company has received three reports of fuel leaks. No fires or injuries have been reported. WHAT TO DO:Stop using the vehicle immediately. If it is stored inside, push the vehicle outside to a well-ventilated area and loosen the fuel cap (one-quarter turn) to equalize pressure. Consumers should call the John Deere Dealer where the vehicle was purchased, to get a free inspection and repair. For more information, call Deere & Company toll- free at (800) 537-8233 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Deere & Company has sent notices to known purchasers.. Recalled by Deere & Company (John Deere).
Why was this product recalled?
Fire & Fire-Related Burn
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on March 20, 2001. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 01511.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (01511) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).