|
June 18, 2007
Alert #07-558
|
|
Briggs & Stratton Snow Thrower Engines Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Briggs & Stratton OHV Snow Thrower Engines
Units: About 480,000
Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Wauwatosa, Wis.
Hazard: When the engines are primed, excess fuel can overflow into the carburetor and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Briggs & Stratton has received 48 reports of fire. There have been no reports of injury. The firm has received one report of minor property damage.
Description: The recall includes snow equipment with Briggs & Stratton OHV engines that have model numbers beginning with 12, 15, 20, or 21, and a date of manufacture (DOM) code between 000601xx and 070301xx. The engines were installed on the following brand snow throwers: Ariens, Canadiana, Craftsman, Frontier Equipment, Husqvarna, Poulan Pro, Simplicity and Snapper. The engine model number and DOM information are located on the cylinder shield or rocker cover. Call for more information about determining if your snow thrower engine is included in the recall.
Sold at: Various snow thrower dealers nationwide from June 2000 through February 2007 for between $630 and $2,350 for the snow thrower.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the snow throwers. Call or contact the firms listed below to arrange for the free repair.
Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Briggs & Stratton toll-free at (866) 478-7855 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the company's Website at www.briggsandstratton.com - Dealers can be found by using the Dealer Locator at the Briggs & Stratton's Web site. Consumers with Craftsman brand snow throwers should call Sears toll-free at (877) 659-7017 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday.
Note: Keep fuel or equipment with fuel in tank away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters or other appliances that have a pilot light or other ignition source, because they can ignite vapors.
Locations of engine numbers
A –
Cylinder Shield, or B –
Rocker Cover
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.