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Excel Industries Recalls 1,800 LED Light Kits for Hustler and BigDog Mowers Over Fire Risk

The accessory light bars, sold since 2020, can overheat and catch fire under certain operating conditions. No injuries have been reported, but Excel and Health Canada are telling owners to stop using them now.

Meridians Life Desk

Published 29 August 2026 · Updated 29 August 2026 · 4 min read

Excel Industries Recalls 1,800 LED Light Kits for Hustler and BigDog Mowers Over Fire RiskGarden
Photo: Photo by Erik Mclean / Pexels (Pexels License — free to use, no attribution legally required (credited above as good practice).)

The short answer

  • Excel Industries recalled about 1,800 accessory LED Light Kits and Light Bars for Hustler and BigDog ride-on mowers on August 27, 2026, citing a fire hazard.
  • The kits, sold from April 2020 through July 2026 for $180 to $330, can overheat or produce flames under certain operating conditions; no injuries have been reported in the US or Canada.
  • Health Canada's parallel recall, covering 81 units sold there, says "temporary voltage surges" may cause the light bars to overheat.
  • Affected owners get free removal and a full refund, including installation labor, by contacting Excel Industries or their dealer.

Excel Industries has recalled roughly 1,800 accessory LED Light Kits and Light Bars sold for its Hustler and BigDog ride-on mowers, saying the lights can overheat or catch fire. The Hesston, Kansas manufacturer announced the recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on August 27, 2026; Health Canada issued a matching recall covering 81 units sold there.

What's affected

  • Product: Accessory LED Light Kits and Light Bars for Hustler and BigDog ride-on mowers, sold as an aftermarket add-on
  • Kits include two LED Light Bars plus a wiring harness, mounting plate and switch
  • Affected part numbers: Light Bar 605003, and Light Kits 121482, 121505, 126991, 126992, 126995, 126999, 127057, 127057P, 127928, 127928P
  • Sold April 2020 through July 2026 at Hustler and BigDog dealers nationwide and at hustlerturf.com and bigdogmower.com, for $180 to $330
  • Manufactured in China

Why it's a fire hazard

The CPSC says the light bars "can overheat or produce flames, posing a risk of serious injury from a fire hazard." Health Canada's version is more specific: it attributes the overheating to "temporary voltage surges" during certain operating conditions. Neither agency has recorded an injury. Excel Industries has received reports of overheating but has not disclosed a count.

What to do if you own one

Stop using the light kit immediately. Contact your Hustler or BigDog dealer, or call Excel Industries directly at 888-848-6038 (option 2), or email safetyadvisory@sbdinc.com. The company will remove the kit — either at the dealer or at your home — destroy the light bars, and issue a full refund that includes the original installation labor.

Sources

Every factual claim above is traceable to these documents. Check them — that is why they are here.

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Meridians Life Desk is an editorial desk at Meridians, not an individual. A desk byline means the article was produced and fact-checked to that desk's published standards. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.

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