303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid Banned in Three States.
303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluids have been banned by the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and Missouri because they fail to meet any current tractor manufacturer’s specifications. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture:
The John Deere (JD) 303 designation is 57 years old and has been obsolete for 43 years. In addition, there are no specifications available for 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluids and, as such, products making only “303” claims cannot be tested to assure compliance with any known specifications.
The Department sampled 14 different 303 fluids, many claiming to work in almost every tractor. All 14 of these 303 fluids failed to meet current specifications and were found to be underperforming to the point that damage was likely to result from use.
Numerous manufacturers and retail outlets have been selling 303 tractor hydraulic fluids despite their knowledge that the fluid is obsolete and may cause damage to farm equipment.
What are the class actions saying about 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid?
According to a class action filed against Tractor Supply and Smitty’s:
Defendants’ use of John Deere’s “303” designation in the name of the product is deceptive and misleading. The Super S Super Trac 303 product is not a John Deere product, does not use John Deere 303’s formula and cannot meet the specifications for John Deere 303. Defendants packaged their Super S Super Trac 303 product in the yellow bucket with illustrations of modern tractors and equipment, and used and traded on the John Deere name, so as to further deceive and mislead and create the impression that the 303 THF Product was a legitimate tractor hydraulic fluid that met the specifications for John Deere 303 and other John Deere equipment.
What is the status of the class actions?
The 303 THF class action against Tractor Supply and Smitty’s in Missouri recently settled for 1.7 million dollars. Other class actions are still proceeding against Walmart, NAPA Auto Parts, O’Reilly Automotive, and others.
At present, no class action has been filed in Virginia.
What if I purchased 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid?
If you purchased 303 THF, you should discontinue use immediately. Continued use could damage your equipment.
What are my options?
If you purchased and used 303 THF, you may want to consult a lawyer to determine whether you could receive compensation for the purchase and for any damage to your equipment.
Webster Book LLP offers a free consultation for these matters. If you would like to examine whether you have an individual claim, please fill out the form below or call us at 888-987-9991.