Ryobi 40V Lawn Mower Class Action Lawsuit: Recall Fails to Address Safety Concerns

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Ryobi's 40V lawn mowers have a defect that can cause overheating and fires, posing safety risks to consumers.

Consumers Affected: Consumers in the U.S. who purchased Ryobi 40V Brushless 21" Cordless Walk-Behind Mowers.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Ryobi’s popular 40V Brushless 21” Cordless Walk-Behind Mowers have sparked serious concerns after reports surfaced linking them to overheating and potential fires. One customer from Louisiana has stepped forward with a class action lawsuit claiming these mowers posed serious safety risks from the moment they were sold.

Ryobi 40V Lawn Mowers Recalled Due to Overheating and Fire Hazard

Earlier this year, Ryobi’s parent company, TTI Outdoor Power Equipment, issued a voluntary recall affecting nearly 246,000 units sold in the United States and Canada between February 2021 and January 2025. The recall covered ten specific models, each featuring a black cutting deck, gray top housing, and black collection bag printed with the company’s recognizable branding.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a connector inside the battery terminal may overheat, increasing the chance of smoke, melting components, or even flames. TTI acknowledged receiving 97 reports of overheating incidents, including five fires and two injuries.

Several model numbers fall under the recall, including:

• RY401014BTLUS
• RY401014US
• RY401140US
• RY401015BTLUS
• RY401015US
• RY401150US
• RY401140US-Y
• RY401150US-Y
• RY401020
• RY401200

Each impacted mower has a serial number between KC21032D010001 and KC21327N999999 printed inside the green mower housing.

Consumers Instructed to Disable Ryobi Mowers

Customers with affected units were told to stop using the machines immediately. To receive a replacement, Ryobi requires owners to cut the handle wire cable in two locations, photograph the damage along with the serial number, and submit the images to TTI for review.

Replacement mowers offered through the recall are tool-only, meaning they do not come with a battery or charger. Customers are expected to continue using the original power components, even if those batteries may have experienced overheating issues during previous use.

The lawsuit points out that some consumers may not have retained purchase receipts or original packaging, which could leave them without an approved way to receive replacement equipment.

Louisiana Plaintiff Describes Firsthand Experience With Defective Mower

Plaintiff Justin Lilly, a resident of Baton Rouge, purchased his Ryobi 40V mower expecting reliable performance for regular lawn care. After experiencing overheating and visible damage to internal parts, he learned about the recall and realized the risk went beyond his own machine.

The complaint explains that Lilly would not have paid the price he did had the defect been disclosed at the time of sale. Lilly alleges that Ryobi misrepresented the safety of these mowers and left consumers to unknowingly purchase products with fire risks.

Consumers Trusted Ryobi Product Descriptions

Ryobi promoted these mowers as dependable tools designed to handle everyday residential lawn maintenance. Lilly contends those claims were misleading given that an internal defect capable of causing overheating and flames existed at the time they were sold.

The lawsuit argues that safer designs were possible, and other manufacturers successfully produced battery-powered mowers without the same risk. By selling equipment with such a defect, Ryobi allegedly deprived customers of a product that matched what was promised.

Lilly further argues that competing brands sell battery-powered mowers without similar overheating risks, which shows the defect was preventable. He claims that Ryobi’s manufacturing process or design decisions introduced unnecessary safety risks that could have been avoided.

Consumers Demand Refunds and Compensation for Defective Mowers

In the Ryobi defective lawnmower class action lawsuit, Lilly seeks refunds, compensation for the time and effort involved in handling the recall, and additional relief for consumers nationwide who purchased these mowers believing they were safe. The lawsuit asserts they shouldn’t be left holding defective products that could potentially catch fire.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Justin Lilly v. Ryobi Technologies, Inc et al
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-00939 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Stuart A. Carpey (Carpey Law, P.C.)

Do you own a Ryobi 40V lawn mower? Share your experience and thoughts on this lawsuit in the comments below.