Briggs & Stratton Recalls Model 40 V-Twin Engine Due to Injury Hazard; Used on Sears, Husqvarna, Bad Boy Riding Mowers

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #11719) was formally reported on February 1, 2011. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 50 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Wear on misrouted wiring may cause it to disconnect from the shut-off device, allowing the engine to continue running when the key is in the "OFF" position or when the operator gets off the seat while the mower is engag… Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately stop using the riding mowers and contact a Briggs & Stratton Authorized Dealer for free inspection and repair. Consumers with affected Craftsman and Husqvarna models were… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

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. 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 15 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.