PlainRecalls

Excel Industries Recalls Hustler and BigDog Lawn Mowers Due to Fire Hazard

Reported: November 1, 2012 Initiated: November 1, 2012 #13704 About 18,000 units

Excel Industries Inc., of Hesston, Kan. issued this CPSC recall on November 1, 2012. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 18,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The fuel tank vent valve fitting can fail to seal and cause a fuel leak, posing a fire hazard.. 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 #13704) was formally reported on November 1, 2012. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Excel Industries Inc., of Hesston, Kan. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 18,000 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The fuel tank vent valve fitting can fail to seal and cause a fuel leak, posing a fire hazard. 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 recalled lawn mowers and contact a Hustler or BigDog dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Excel is contacting its customers directly. — 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, of which 6 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 14 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

About 18,000

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

The Hustler and BigDog brand riding or walk-behind lawn mowers were sold in the following colors: Hustler models in yellow; BigDog models in red. They have large mowing decks ranging from 36 to 72 inches. Model name and serial numbers can be found on a tag located on the left side of the frame in the front of the mower's fender. The following model names, serial numbers and types of lawn mower are included in this recall: BrandModel NameTypeSerial Numbers Hustler 1500 Riding Greens Riding 10062845 through 11081604 FasTrak Zero Turn riding 10121082 through 11120946 FasTrak Super Duty Zero Turn riding 10091717 through 12054999 Sport Zero Turn riding 10120377 through 12054999 Super Z Zero Turn riding 10109017 through 12054999 TrimStar Walk-behind 11033546 through 12054999 X-ONE Zero Turn riding 10090765 through 12022041 BigDog A Series Zero Turn riding 11100596 through 12054999 C Series Zero Turn riding 11031908 through 12054999 R Diablo Zero Turn riding 12020696 through 12054999 R PowerBar Zero Turn riding 12020892 through 12054999 R Series Zero Turn riding 11021137 through 12054999 T Series Walk-behind 11050815 through 12054999 X Series Zero Turn riding 11039001 through 12054999 X Diablo Zero Turn riding 11090151 through 12054999

Reason for Recall

The fuel tank vent valve fitting can fail to seal and cause a fuel leak, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lawn mowers and contact a Hustler or BigDog dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Excel is contacting its customers directly.

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 13704
Date reported November 1, 2012
Date initiated November 1, 2012
Recalling firm Excel Industries Inc., of Hesston, Kan.
Units affected About 18,000
Distribution Not disclosed

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

Scale of Impact

About 18,000 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
The Hustler and BigDog brand riding or walk-behind lawn mowers were sold in the following colors: Hustler models in yellow; BigDog models in red. They have large mowing decks ranging from 36 to 72 inches. Model name and serial numbers can be found on a tag located on the left side of the frame in the front of the mower's fender. The following model names, serial numbers and types of lawn mower are included in this recall: BrandModel NameTypeSerial Numbers Hustler 1500 Riding Greens Riding 10062845 through 11081604 FasTrak Zero Turn riding 10121082 through 11120946 FasTrak Super Duty Zero Turn riding 10091717 through 12054999 Sport Zero Turn riding 10120377 through 12054999 Super Z Zero Turn riding 10109017 through 12054999 TrimStar Walk-behind 11033546 through 12054999 X-ONE Zero Turn riding 10090765 through 12022041 BigDog A Series Zero Turn riding 11100596 through 12054999 C Series Zero Turn riding 11031908 through 12054999 R Diablo Zero Turn riding 12020696 through 12054999 R PowerBar Zero Turn riding 12020892 through 12054999 R Series Zero Turn riding 11021137 through 12054999 T Series Walk-behind 11050815 through 12054999 X Series Zero Turn riding 11039001 through 12054999 X Diablo Zero Turn riding 11090151 through 12054999. Recalled by Excel Industries Inc., of Hesston, Kan.. Units affected: About 18,000.
Why was this product recalled?
The fuel tank vent valve fitting can fail to seal and cause a fuel leak, posing a fire hazard.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lawn mowers and contact a Hustler or BigDog dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Excel is contacting its customers directly.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on November 1, 2012. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 13704.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (13704) 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.

Compare this recall with Electrolux Group Recalls Frigidaire Gas Ranges Due to Burn … →

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).