Today's Consumer: News you can use

MOWERS RECALLED

Lawn-Boy Inc., of Bloomington, Minn., is recalling about 90,000 Lawn-Boy power mowers. Stress cracks can develop in the mower's fuel tank, allowing gasoline to leak and posing a risk of fire and burn injuries.

Lawn-Boy has received nearly 400 reports of fuel tanks on these mowers leaking, and one report of a fire. No injuries or property damage were reported.

The recalled Lawn-Boy SilverPro and GoldPro Series are walk-behind, 21- inch mowers powered by 2-cycle Duraforce engines. "Duraforce" is written on the top of the recoil starter. A decal on the right rear of the mower's housing has one of the following model numbers: 10247, 10252, 10323, 10324, 10424, 10550 or 10552. The decal also has a serial number starting with "21."

Lawn-Boy dealers, and department and home center stores sold these mowers from December 2000 through November 2001 for between $300 and $600. Consumers should stop using these recalled mowers immediately and contact Lawn-Boy toll-free at 800-444-8676 anytime to arrange for a free replacement fuel tank to be installed. They can also visit the company's Web site at lawnboy.com.

GARDEN TRACTORS RECALLED

Cub Cadet Corp., of Cleveland, Ohio, is recalling about 6,000 garden tractors. The tractor's rear wheel can loosen and spin free on its axle, resulting in a loss of power to the wheel and brake, which poses the risk of injury to consumers.

Cub Cadet has received 44 reports of wheels loosening and spinning free on the axle, though no injuries or property damage has been reported.

The recalled garden tractors have a 44-inch cutting deck, an 18- or 20-horsepower engine, a yellow base, and a black seat and steering wheel. The model name ("Cub Cadet") is printed in blue on the engine hood near the steering wheel, and the model number (No. 3184) is printed in large numbers on the hood of the tractor. The name "Cub Cadet Corporation" and the model number are also printed on the model plate label affixed to the lower frame near the right front wheel.

Authorized Cub Cadet dealers nationwide sold the garden tractors from October 1999 through November 2001 for about $6,000. Consumers should stop using these garden tractors immediately and contact the Cub Cadet dealership where the tractor was purchased to schedule a free repair. For more information, they can call Cub Cadet toll-free at 888-848-6038 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or log on to the company's Web site at cubcadet.com.

MUSTARD RECALLED

Viscusi Wholesale Grocers Inc. of Schnectady, N.Y., has recalled its My Country Sweet honey dijon mustard because it contains eggs not listed on the ingredient label, posing an allergy risk for some individuals.

About 1,200 jars are involved in the recall. The mustard was distributed in 8-ounce glass jars to grocery stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. They carry the UPC code 81319-81991.

No other varieties of My Country Sweet mustards are affected.

Consumers may return the mustard for a full refund. For more information, they can call 888-607-2823.

PIES AND COOKIES RECALLED

Bishop Baking Co. of Cleveland has recalled its oatmeal crème-filled pies and cookies because they contain eggs not declared on the ingredient label, posing an allergy risk for some individuals.

The confections were sold under the Baker's Treat, Bi-Lo, Bishop, Bluebird, Break Cake, Crackin' Good, Fiesta, Food Lion, Kash n' Karry, Keefe Kitchen, Kroger, Laura Lynn, Party World, Shurfine and Southern Home brands and distributed nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

The recall was initiated by the bakery following an internal quality audit. Consumers may call 877-875-3182 in the United States and 800-527-1557 in Puerto Rico for more information.

'HOTTEST' CARS

The Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord remain the most popular vehicles for car thieves, and statistics show auto theft is on the rise, the National Insurance Crime Bureau said Tuesday.

According to FBI figures 1,165,559 vehicles were stolen in 2000 compared to 1,152,057 in 1999. The top 10 most stolen list was again headed by the Toyota Camry, the best-selling sedan in America, followed by the Honda Accord, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Honda Civic and Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. The full-size Chevrolet C/K pickup, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Caprice, Ford Taurus and Ford F-150 pickup complete the list of the most stolen vehicles.

"The troubling 2000 statistics indicate we need to commit more resources to address this problem and help prevent this increase from becoming a trend," said NICB President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Bryant. "The study confirms that thieves target a wide range of popular passenger vehicle models," he said, adding that most cars were worth more stripped down and sold for parts than assembled.

Bryant blamed the economic recession for increased theft rates and said thieves followed market trends and targeted the most popular vehicles.

Many of the most stolen vehicles were so popular in other countries that they are illegally exported by organized theft rings. He advised people living in or near port or border cities should take special precautions to safeguard their vehicles.

"Motorists driving theft-prone vehicles need to take additional steps such as installing a visible deterrent like a steering wheel lock, an alarm, a starter or fuel disabler and a tracking device," Bryant said. "The more layers of protection on your vehicle, the more difficult it is to steal."

CRASH TEST RESULTS

The Ford Explorer and Acura MDX earned "best pick" ratings in crash tests of 11 mid-sized sport-utility vehicles performed by an insurance industry group.

The Arlington, Va.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Tuesday said the 2002 Explorer and 2001 MDX performed the best in a 40-mph frontal offset crash. The Explorer and its mechanical twin, the Mercury Mountaineer, were most improved.

The institute delayed testing the Explorer until Ford completed structural modifications to improve the SUVs performance in the offset crash test. "By the results of our recent test, the changes were successful," said Institute President Brian O'Neill. "The Explorer's structure held together very well."

The redesigned Explorer also fared well in crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, earning a perfect five-star rating for protecting the driver in a front-end crash and four stars for the passenger. The Explorer earned five stars for side protection of both front- and rear-seat occupants and three stars for rollover resistance. The last Explorer model tested by the institute in 1996 was rated acceptable.

The institute said the Acura MDX "held its shape extremely well" in a 40 mph front-end crash and the dummy went squarely into the airbag, indicating a real driver would suffer only minor injuries.

The Acura MDX, Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 and Mitsubishi Montero Sport were rated good; the Buick Rendezvous and Isuzu Axiom, acceptable, and the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Jeep Liberty, Isuzu Rodeo and Pontiac Aztek, marginal.

The institute's crashworthiness ratings are based primarily on a frontal offset crash at 40 mph, in which 40 percent of a vehicle's front-end slams into a deformable stationary barrier. NHTSA crash tests are conducted at 35 mph.