Sears Craftsman riding lawn mowers
6 reports to CPSC, the latest made Jul 17, 2013. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 31, 2026.
- 6reports to CPSC
- Jul 17, 2013the latest report was made
- Jun 8, 2011the earliest
- 6with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Sears Craftsman
- Maker
- Sears Holdings Management CorporationMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Riding lawn mowersCPSC’s product type: Riding Power Lawn Mowers (code 1422), in Yard & Garden: Lawn Mowers, Leaf Blowers and Lawn Vacuums
Other ways the reports write the brand (2)
“Sears” and “Sears Craftsmen”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| July 2013 | 2 |
| May 2012 | 1 |
| November 2011 | 1 |
| July 2011 | 1 |
| June 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- No one hurt 5 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily.
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No one hurt Made Jul 17, 2013, sent to the company Jul 25, 2013, published by CPSC Aug 8, 2013
The product, in the report: riding mower, 30 inch cut, designed to be zero turn or similar
Front wheels on Sears Craftsman mower fail after several uses. Failure is sudden and can lead to loss of control while mowing. Wheel hubs break loose from wheel suddenly and without warning leaving the hub in place and wheel breaking loose.
Sears replaced two wheels while under warranty and I have purchased no less than 6 others trying to find a solution. Last wheel broke first time mowed while turning leading to loss of control and throwing me from the mower- fortunately it was a low speed.
Research into this problem led to another complaint with same problem and prompted me to report my experience.
Mower is Sears Craftsman rear engine mower, zero turn steering, 13.5 horse power. Wheels always fail in same manner, hub breaks out of center of wheel while turning.
Have kept several of the broken wheels for reference if needed.
- Model
- 536-270320
- Serial number
- T108156104
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Jul 1, 2010, about then
- Where
- Orangeburg, South Carolina: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 59, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Sears Craftsman, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Jul 8, 2013, sent to the company Jul 16, 2013, published by CPSC Jul 30, 2013
The product, in the report: riding lawn tractor
I have a previous report of issues with this mower, report #20111014-7AC5E-2147474325....here we are again, with now the 4th left link lift assembly snapping and having to again repurchase another one for this mower that was purchased in 4/2006...it seems obsessive that this part keeps snapping in the same place all the time, and that it is a recurring problem with this mower....model # 917.276410 18.5 HP 42 inch electric start 6 sp transaxle mower....I survived having gas pour out onto my leg (a later recall was issued and the mower fixed) but this issue with the left link assembly snapping, no one will answer my questions about this, not even Sears returned an answer to my concerns....so of course, I am very unhappy with this product and would like to know if it is a flaw in the design
- Model
- +28.276410
- Bought from
- Sears Hardware
- Bought
- Apr 1, 2006, about then
- Where
- Galena, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Sears Craftsman, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 26, 2012, sent to the company Jun 5, 2012, published by CPSC Jun 19, 2012
The product, in the report: Sears Craftsmen YT4000 riding lawn mower
We have a new Sears Craftsmen Riding Lawn Mower. Bougt new on 3-10-12 The ignition/key switch does not work properly. The key starts it okay but the mower does not shut off when the key is turned off and the key pulled out. You have to hit the ignition switch several times and then it will shut down. In addition, the seat safety switch does not work. If the mower is running and you get off, even if the blades are engaged, the mower stays running. Additionally, the back up safety does not work.
- Model
- 917.288562
- Serial number
- 022412D003220
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Mar 10, 2012
- Where
- Riverton, Utah: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Sears Craftsmen, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Nov 30, 2011, sent to the company Jan 17, 2012, published by CPSC Jan 31, 2012
The product, in the report: 3 Gallon Riding Mower
The consumer stated that his riding lawn mower is a potential fire hazard as the gas tank has split and leaks gas. The consumer stated that the plastic gas tank crack on the “C” line on the front of the mower. The tank is below the seat . The consumer had the lawn mower sitting and the garage last night and could smell gasoline. The consumer started the mower today and within seconds noticed the gas tank had cracked.
The consumer stated that the product has never caught fire or smoked. The consumer has not been harmed by the product nor has his home been damaged. The consumer ordered a new gas tank today for the lawn mower from the retailer at his expense. The consumer called the retailer about the issue 2 years ago and the consumer didn’t offer to help him except sell him a replacement gas tank. The retailer referred the consumer to the CPSC.
The consumer has not contacted a fire inspector about the lawn mower. The consumer stated that the product shows no other signs of damage and has had no other issues with the product. The gas tank is about 3 gallon and the riding mower has a manual shift. The consumer has yet to call the firm. The consumer stated his neighbor bought a nearly identical mower that also had the gas tank crack at the same location.
- Model
- 917.275030
- Serial number
- 070901A003425
- Bought from
- Sears, Indiana
- Bought
- Nov 15, 2003, about then
- Where
- Muncie, Indiana: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 57, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Sears, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
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First aid Made Jul 6, 2011, published by CPSC Jul 28, 2011
The product, in the report: Riding Lawn Mower
Product: Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor; Model No. 917.28924(4); Serial 090310A036368
Injury sustained: Two occasions with sand and/or dirt thrown up into face and into eyes
Problem is that the riding lawn mower has an inadequate deflector shield over the mower blade. When on perfectly level ground, the shield usually performs correctly. If you are on a slight slope or encounter slightly rough terrain, the shield bends so that it no longer covers all of the blade area. This allows rocks, dirt, and sand to be thrown into the face of the driver.
In addition to the sand and dirt, the mower threw up a large nail last week. Luckily the nail penetrated the heavy vinyl deflector shield. If it had been a few inches in a different direction it might have been thrown up into the face or chin of the driver. The force behind the nail would be enough to puncture the skull of a human or penetrate the area under the jaw. It would have been more than sufficient to blind someone if struck in the eye.
I contacted the Sears warranty line. They told me that it was not a warranty issue and they could not help me. I am capable of modifying the deflector on my own lawnmower so that it is no longer a safety hazard. However, I am concerned that someone who is unaware of the problem could be seriously injured or blinded.
- Model
- Sears Craftsman
- Serial number
- 090310A036368
- Bought from
- Sears
- Bought
- Jan 15, 2011, about then
- Where
- Laddonia, Missouri: Farm/
Ranch - Who was involved
- Age 66, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Sears Craftsman, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
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No one hurt Made Jun 8, 2011, published by CPSC Jun 30, 2011
The product, in the report: Sears Craftsman Mower 536.270280
Sears Craftsman Mower (Model 536.270280) fuel tank started to leak gas on floor of garage. Gas tank part number is 7601040. I first noticed that garage smelled of gas, but it took me two days to see a puddle of gas on the floor of the garage under the mower. I removed and drained gas tank and filled it with water to check for leaks. Leak appears to be coming from the hole where Bolt (no. 23) holds tank to mower frame. I am wondering if this is related to other Murray manufactured mower fuel tank leaks reported in the news.
- Model
- 536.270280
- Bought from
- Sears Hardware Store
- Bought
- Apr 15, 2004
- Where
- Carmel, Indiana: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Sears Craftsman, made or sold by Sears Holdings Management Corporation
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 31, 2026 and checked Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.