Raven MPV riding lawn mowers

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Hurt, care not known

   Made Nov 16, 2017 · , sent to the company Nov 27, 2017 · , published by CPSC Dec 11, 2017

   The product, in the report: 420 cc gasoline powered engine powers the on-board generator • 7100 watt generator powers the outlets and blades and charges the batteries • 46” removable fabricated deck is designed for enhanced vacuum, mulch and discharge • Transport speed up to 17 mpg in gas or electric and 14” turning radius makes it easy to maneuver around tight turns • 550 lb towing capacity and storage bed for getting supplies to the work site

   Raven Mower engine cam shaft blew up at church picnic. This mower has had several issues since replacement of original. I purchased my original Raven in 2014, after less than a year, the generator portion of the MPV stopped working. At that time Denver Global Products (DGP) replaced the mower with a new one. Then at the beginning of 2016, the mowing deck stop working, I called DGP and found out that there was a recall on the deck at the end of 2015 and failed to contact me. They sent me a new mower deck mid-year 2016 after several attempts to contact them. Fast forward to this year. At the beginning of the mowing season, I had to “charge” my Raven so that I could mow, after several attempts to contact them due to voicemail issues or being on hold for an hour, they finally sent someone out. The tech was able to diagnose that the batteries had failed and that they needed to be replaced. They were changed on Aug 15, 2017. 6 days later, I was able to mow and the mower started cutting off on its own and would restart with no problems. This happened 4 times, then front right wheel came off the mower, WHILE I was mowing. I called for a replacement wheel and after several minutes they agreed to replace it. When I finally got the new wheel, I was finally able to mow again on Aug 28. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, until the mower started cutting off again in mid-mow. This happened 4 times, then on the 5th time the mower would not restart. I called and email DGP about what had happened, and they said they would get a tech out in 2 weeks. Since I had a Church picnic coming up on Labor Day and had no mower that would work, I had to borrow one to get the mowing done. At the picnic, several of the guys had heard me talk about the Raven and how much I had enjoyed the product asked to look at it. I showed them the features and they were impressed with the set-up. I attempt to start the Raven and low and behold it started. One of the guys said that it is sounding like a diesel engine, and said that it might be the cam rods. As soon as he said that the top of the engine blew off and several pieces flew 20’ away and almost hit the kids that were playing nearby. One gentleman got hit on the forehead and is ok. Oil spew out all over the place onto our clothes and on my siding. I am absolutely shocked, but glad that no one was seriously hurt.

   I have email the above information to DGP and have not received any email back from them. I finally called and talked to [REDACTED], and she said that the engine is out of warranty and that I can buy a new engine to put in, but still hasn’t emailed me.

   I am totally frustrated and actually scared of this machine. Plus, I want people to know that this could happen to someone else as well

   Model

   MPV7100B

   Serial number

   MPV7100B71015000211

   Bought from

   Lowe’s

   Bought

   Aug 1, 2015, about then

   Where

   Simpsonville, South Carolina: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Friend / Neighbor / Co-worker

   As this report names them

   Brand Raven MPV mower, made or sold by Rato Power Manufacturer Co.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Level of care not known

2. No one hurt

   Made Sep 13, 2016 · , sent to the company Oct 28, 2016 · , published by CPSC Nov 14, 2016

   The product, in the report: Ride on mower

   This consumer is reporting his ride on lawnmower as a severe safety hazard. This lawn multi purpose vehicle is a mower, 110 volt generator & is similar to an ATV. He purchased one in April 2015 then discovered that the motor was bent and he contacted the manufacturer who replaced the original with a replacement July 18th, 2015. He discovered around March 2016 that there was black mold on the seat of the mower which I tried to clean with a mold cleaner but he was unsuccessful. He began contacting the manufacturer but was unable to obtain a replacement seat until the end of August 2016. He reported an oil leak to the manufacturer the end of 2015 but the manufacturer informed him that he probably spilled the oil during a change. August 30th, 2016 he had mowing the lawn, turned the unit off then dismounted from the mower, however his foot slipped on the grass causing his foot to go slightly under the mower then realized that the blades were still turning, the blades hit the bottom of his boot. There are no injuries being reported The caller has been in touch with the manufacturer multiple times with multiple safety issues and has had difficulty obtaining help from them each time with unprofessional responses from the representatives and delays with any assistance to correct unsafe problems with the product.

   Model

   MPV7100

   Serial number

   MPV7100022715004111

   Bought from

   Lowe’s, Florida

   Bought

   Jul 18, 2015, about then

   Where

   Green Cove Sprngs, Florida: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Raven MPV, made or sold by Rato Power Manufacturer Co.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources