Master Craft® Pressure Washers

CPSC Recall #08-569 — May 7, 2008

Recall Summary

Recall Number08-569
Recall DateMay 7, 2008
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 1,900
ImporterFingerhut Direct Marketing, of Eden Prairie, Minn.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Fingerhut catalogs and Fingerhut.com from July 2007 through March 2008 for about $100.

Product

Master Craft® Pressure Washers

Description

This recall involves Master Craft® pressure washers with model number ABW-3100G. The model number is located on a label under the handle. The pressure washer has a yellow housing and the name, Master Craft® printed on the side.

Hazard

The motor on the pressure washer can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

Fingerhut has received four reports of smoke coming from the unit, including one report of fire. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the pressure washers immediately, unplug them and return the pressure washer to Fingerhut for a refund or replacement product. A pre-paid shipping label will be provided to consumers. Fingerhut is directly contacting purchasers of the pressure washers.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, 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.