3/8-Inch Drive Cordless Drill/Driver
CPSC Recall #05-596 — August 15, 2005
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-596 |
| Recall Date | August 15, 2005 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 2,000 |
| Manufacturer | JS Products, of Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Mac Tools distributors from November 2003 through April 2005 nationwide for between $270 and $312 |
| depending on the model. |
Product
3/8-Inch Drive Cordless Drill/Driver
Description
The recall involves certain MAC-brand 14.4 Volt and 18.0 Volt 3/8-inch drive cordless drill/drivers. The 14.4 Volt units have part number CDD14438 or CDD14438-Kit and the 18.0 Volt units have Part Number CDD18012 or CDD18012-KIT. The part number can be found on the side of the drill near the logo.
Hazard
The battery packs on these drill/drivers can overheat, expand and possibly rupture, creating an explosion or thermal burn hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
Mac Tools has received six reports of battery packs rupturing while charging and one report of the battery pack rupturing while in use. The rupture that occurred while the product was in use resulted in the user sustaining minor skin burns. The other incidents did not involve any injuries.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers stop using the recalled drill/driver immediately and contact their Mac Tools distributor for information on receiving a free replacement drill/driver with battery pack.
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.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
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.