CPSC, STIHL Recalls Yard Power Products Due to Burn and Fire Hazards

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Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Summary Statement

Voluntary recall of gas powered Stihl trimmers, brushcutters, KombiMotors, hedge trimmers, edgers, clearing saws, pole pruners, and backpack blowers that utilize a toolless fuel cap because of risk of fuel spills, fires and burns.
May 25, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2011
Release #11-226
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 233-4729
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

STIHL Recalls Yard Power Products Due to Burn and Fire Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. 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: Gas powered STIHL trimmers, brushcutters, KombiMotors, hedge trimmers, edgers, clearing saws, pole pruners, and backpack blowers that utilize a toolless fuel cap

Units: About 2.3 million

Manufacturer: STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Hazard: The level of ethanol and other fuel additives can distort the toolless fuel cap, allowing fuel to spill, posing a fire and burn hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: STIHL has received 81 reports of difficulty installing and/or removing the fuel caps and fuel spillage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The following yard power tools and model numbers are included in this recall:

Product Name & Description Model Number Serial Numbers Affected
Blower, backpack BR 500 Up to 284053456
BR 550 Up to 284053456
BR 600 Up to 284053456
BR 600 Magnum Up to 284053456
BR 500
BR 500

Hedge Trimmer, extended reach HL 90K Up to 284101483
HL 100 Up to 284101483
HL 100 K Up to 284101483
HL 100
HL 100

Pole Pruner HT 56 C-E Up to 284398635
HT 100 Up to 284097165
HT 101 Up to 284097165
HT 130 Up to 284097165
HT 131 Up to 284097165
HT 131
HT 131

Edger FC 56 C-E Up to 284180999
FC 70 C-E Up to 284180999
FC 90 Up to 284012099
FC 95 Up to 284012099
FC 100 Up to 284012099
FC 110 Up to 284012099
FC 70 C-E
FC 70 C-E

Trimmer /Brushcutter FS 40 C-E Up to 284180999
FS 56 C-E Up to 284180999
FS 56 RC-E Up to 284180999
FS 70 RC-E Up to 284180999
FS 90 Up to 284012099
FS 90 R Up to 284012099
FS 100 RX Up to 284012099
FS 110 Up to 284012099
FS 110 R Up to 284012099
FS 110 RX Up to 284012099
FS 130 Up to 284012099
FS 130 R Up to 284012099
FS 110 R
FS 110 R

Clearing Saw FS 310 Up to 284012099
FS 310
FS 310

KombiEngineKM 56 RC-EUp to 284180999
KM 90 RUp to 284012099
KM 110 RUp to 284012099
KM 130 RUp to 284012099
KM 130 R
KM 130 R

Visit STIHL’s website, www.stihlusa.com for additional photos of the power tools involved and photos of the toolless fuel cap.

Sold at: Authorized STIHL dealers nationwide from July 2002 through May 2011 for between $190 and $650.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these products and return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for a free repair. Consumers can contact STIHL for instructions on identifying these toolless fuel caps.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact STIHL toll-free at (800) 233-4729 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.stihlusa.com or e-mail to stihlrecall@stihl.us

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 www.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.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: www.saferproducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Subscribe.