According to Business Week, Toro has issued a product recall for 3,700 Toro Z Master ZRT Mowers due to a problem with a switch that could accidentally activate the commercial riding mower. The company announced it is working on a voluntary recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The government agency said that a faulty switch may activate the riding mower when the operator vacates the seat, which raises the risk of an injury from the mower blades. The commercial mowers are zero radius turn with 52-inch and 72-inch cutting decks.
The machines have a light-gray optional deluxe seat with an adjustable knob on the front. The operator presence switch is built into the seat. Toro has received one report of a foot laceration due to accidental blade activation.
Affected model numbers for Toro riding lawn mowers are: 74264, 74265, 74266, 74267, 74274, 74253 and 74254. Serial numbers start with 260000001 and 270000001.
Toro sold the riding mowers from September 2005 through January 2011 for between $13,000 and $17,000. The company will recall 109 ZRT mowers in Canada. A modification can be made on the deluxe seat’s adjustment knob on the front. Consumers are asked to stop using the riding mower until safety modifications can be made by an authorized Toro dealer. It is also illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.