Outdoor Power Equipment Recalls on the Rise

By Mike Rozembajgier

A recent Consumer Reports blog post identified some key recall trends in the outdoor power equipment industry that retailers and manufacturers should take note of. According to the post, more than 4.6 million units of outdoor power equipment have been recalled in just the past decade because of fuel leaks that pose fire and burn hazards. Products recalled include lawn mowers, generators, snow throwers, chain saws and log splitters.

In the most recent example from May, 2011, equipment manufacturer STIHL initiated a voluntary recall of 2.3 million units of several types of outdoor power tools that use a toolless fuel cap. Consumer Reports notes that “these recalls have plagued a wide range of manufacturers and have resulted in more than 5,300 incidents including almost 30 reports of injury or property damage over the last ten years.”

According to a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) press release discussing the STIHL recalls, the company had “received 81 reports of difficulty installing and/or removing the fuel caps and fuel spillage.” No injuries have been reported.

All manufacturers of outdoor power tools that use similar fuel caps should be aware of  consumer safety issues, work to mitigate any potential risks, and be prepared with a comprehensive recall management plan.

Similar fuel leakage and fire hazard concerns in the past several years include the recalls of 22,000 Honda Motor Corp lawn mowers, 272,000 Black & Decker Blower / Vacuums, 84,000 Toro Company snow blowers and 22,000 Shindaiwa Backpack Blowers.

Consumer Reports’ Outdoor Power Equipment Program Leader, Peter Sawchuk, explains that “vibration and impact have been the most common causes” of the fuel leaks. However, more recently, “there appears to be a noticeable increase in fuel leakage from failed parts in the fuel delivery components.”

Sawchuk goes on to recommend that operators of outdoor power tools watch for fuel leaks. He notes that due to the corrosive properties of ethanol additives in gasoline, fuel left in a tank for just a few months could cause equipment problems.

Manufacturers and retailers alike should keep an eye on trends in outdoor power tool recalls and seek to identify any other specific patterns or areas of potential risk. Manufacturers of outdoor power equipment should be ready with a comprehensive recall management strategy in the event that additional or recurring problems make their products too risky for the marketplace.

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