PlainRecalls
FDA Devices Verify with FDA Devices → Moderate Class II Terminated

Assembly, Patient Side Manipulator on da Vinci Surgical Systems: da Vinci S Surgical System; da Vinci SI Surgical System da Vinci Si-e Surgical System; Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Sunnyvale, CA 94086. The Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System (Intuitive Surgical da Vinci Surgical System Model IS2000/3000) is intended to assist in the accurate control of Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instruments including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp endoscopic dissectors,

Reported: December 11, 2013 Initiated: November 11, 2013 #Z-0436-2014 1,386 units

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. issued this FDA Devices recall on December 11, 2013. Classified as Moderate severity (Class II). Approximately 1,386 units are affected. The recall was issued because: Reports of friction within certain instrument arms can interrupt smooth instrument motion. This can be felt by the surg…. This recall notice is sourced from official FDA Devices 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 FDA Devices action (record #Z-0436-2014) was formally reported on December 11, 2013, with the manufacturer initiating the action on November 11, 2013. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Terminated. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Sunnyvale, CA. Federal records indicate 1,386 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: Reports of friction within certain instrument arms can interrupt smooth instrument motion. This can be felt by the surgeon as resistance in the movement of the master.In this situation, the instrument can stall momentar… Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: Worldwide Distribution: US (nationwide) and to countries of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, S. Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, …. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

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 FDA Devices. 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 13 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

1,386

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

Assembly, Patient Side Manipulator on da Vinci Surgical Systems: da Vinci S Surgical System; da Vinci SI Surgical System da Vinci Si-e Surgical System; Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Sunnyvale, CA 94086. The Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System (Intuitive Surgical da Vinci Surgical System Model IS2000/3000) is intended to assist in the accurate control of Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instruments including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp endoscopic dissectors, scissors, scalpels, ultrasonic shears, forceps/pick-ups, needle holders, endoscopic retractors, stabilizers, electro cautery and accessories for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electro cautery, suturing, and delivery and placement of microwave and cryogenic ablation probes and accessories, during urologic surgical procedures, general laparoscopic surgical procedures, gynecologic laparoscopic surgical procedures, general cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular thoracoscopic surgical procedures and thoracoscopically-assisted cardiotomy procedures. The system is indicated for adult and pediatric use

Reason for Recall

Reports of friction within certain instrument arms can interrupt smooth instrument motion. This can be felt by the surgeon as resistance in the movement of the master.In this situation, the instrument can stall momentarily and then suddenly catch-up to the master position if the surgeon pushes through the resistance.

Details

Recalling Firm
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Units Affected
1,386
Distribution
Worldwide Distribution: US (nationwide) and to countries of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, S. Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Romania. Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and United Kingdom.
Location
Sunnyvale, CA

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the FDA Devices recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Severity class Moderate (Class II)
Status Terminated
Recall number Z-0436-2014
Date reported December 11, 2013
Date initiated November 11, 2013
Recalling firm Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Units affected 1,386
Distribution Worldwide Distribution: US (nationwide) and to countries of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, S. Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands,…

Profile values are sourced directly from the official FDA Devices enforcement record. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scale of Impact

1,386 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
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. Food and Drug Administration filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Assembly, Patient Side Manipulator on da Vinci Surgical Systems: da Vinci S Surgical System; da Vinci SI Surgical System da Vinci Si-e Surgical System; Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Sunnyvale, CA 94086. The Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instrument Control System (Intuitive Surgical da Vinci Surgical System Model IS2000/3000) is intended to assist in the accurate control of Intuitive Surgical Endoscopic Instruments including rigid endoscopes, blunt and sharp endoscopic dissectors, scissors, scalpels, ultrasonic shears, forceps/pick-ups, needle holders, endoscopic retractors, stabilizers, electro cautery and accessories for endoscopic manipulation of tissue, including grasping, cutting, blunt and sharp dissection, approximation, ligation, electro cautery, suturing, and delivery and placement of microwave and cryogenic ablation probes and accessories, during urologic surgical procedures, general laparoscopic surgical procedures, gynecologic laparoscopic surgical procedures, general cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular thoracoscopic surgical procedures and thoracoscopically-assisted cardiotomy procedures. The system is indicated for adult and pediatric use. Recalled by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.. Units affected: 1,386.
Why was this product recalled?
Reports of friction within certain instrument arms can interrupt smooth instrument motion. This can be felt by the surgeon as resistance in the movement of the master.In this situation, the instrument can stall momentarily and then suddenly catch-up to the master position if the surgeon pushes through the resistance.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the FDA Devices on December 11, 2013. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: Z-0436-2014.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: Worldwide Distribution: US (nationwide) and to countries of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, S. Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Romania. Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and United Kingdom..
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (Z-0436-2014) against your product. Visit the official FDA Devices website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
Should I stop using a recalled medication or medical device?
Do not stop using a recalled medication or device without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abruptly discontinuing treatment could pose its own health risks. Your doctor can advise on alternatives or whether the recall applies to your specific product lot. Check the recall number and lot information against your product packaging.

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 Endo-Model Replacement Plateau; Item Number: 15-0027/11; →

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).