Black & Decker, Bostitch and Porter-Cable Hammer Drills and Drill Drivers

CPSC Recall #19-027 - November 1, 2018

Recall Summary

Recall Number19-027
Recall DateNovember 1, 2018
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 641,000 (in addition, about 18,000 were sold in Canada)
ImporterBlack & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

The Home Depot
Lowe’s
major home and hardware stores nationwide
and online at Amazon.com and other online retailers from January 2010 through July 2018 for between $50 and $100

Product

Black & Decker, Bostitch and Porter-Cable Hammer Drills and Drill Drivers

Description

This recall involves side handles supplied with Porter-Cable brand model PC70THD ½ Inch VSR 2-Speed Hammer Drills, Black & Decker brand model DR560 ½ Inch Drill/Drivers, and Bostitch brand models BTE140 and BTE141 ½ Inch Hammer Drills. The side handles are black plastic and attach to the drill to help provide stability. The Porter-Cable hammer drills are gray with red accents, the Black & Decker drill/drivers are orange with black accents, and the Bostich hammer drills are yellow with black accents.Product NameModel NumberPorter-Cable ½ Inch VSR 2-Speed Hammer DrillPC70THDBlack & Decker ½ Inch Drill/DriverDR560Bostitch ½ Inch Hammer DrillBTE140 and BTE141 

Hazard

The side handle sold with the drill can slip or break, leading to a loss of control of the tool, posing an injury hazard

Incidents & Injuries

Black & Decker has received 11 reports of side handles slipping or breaking and one report of a torn rotator cuff injury.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the drills and contact Black & Decker for a free replacement side handle

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.