Vanguard V-twin gasoline engines and plastic fuel filters
CPSC Recall #00-061 — February 2, 2000
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 00-061 |
| Recall Date | February 2, 2000 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 2,600 |
| Manufacturer | Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Milwaukee, Wis. |
Where It Was Sold
| The engines were sold separately and to equipment manufacturers. Equipment containing these engines were sold nationwide from March 1999 through November 1999. The engines alone sold for about $1 |
| 200.Briggs and Stratton distributors and dealers sold the fuel filters from March 1999 through November 1999 for about $5. |
Product
Vanguard V-twin gasoline engines and plastic fuel filters
Description
PRODUCTS: Vanguard V-Twin Engines and Fuel Filters - Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Milwaukee, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 2,600 Vanguard V-twin gasoline engines with 9-quart fuel tanks. These engines were used in various brands of construction, industrial and lawn and garden equipment, including vacuum lawn sweepers, air compressors, leaf blowers and pressure washers. "VANGUARD V-Twin" is written on the engines, which are red or black. There are identification tags on the side of these engines with model number 294442, 294447, 303442, 303447, 350442 or 350447. Only engines with 9-quart fuel tanks manufactured by Briggs & Stratton are part of this recall. These tags also show an 8-digit code with the first six digits indicating the date the engine was manufactured by year, month and day. For example, 990215XX would indicate the engine was manufactured on February 15, 1999. The recalled engines were manufactured between February 15, 1999, and November 17, 1999. The engines were sold separately and to equipment manufacturers. Equipment containing these engines were sold nationwide from March 1999 through November 1999. The engines alone sold for about $1,200. In addition, about 4,600 clear, plastic fuel filters were sold separately as replacement parts for Vanguard engines with 9-quart fuel tanks. They have replacement part number 808116, which is written on the bottom of the filter. They were sold for use on these Vanguard V-twin engines manufactured on or after August 23, 1995, including all the model numbers of recalled engines listed above, and engines with model number 290442 or 290447. Briggs and Stratton distributors and dealers sold these fuel filters from March 1999 through November 1999 for about $5. PROBLEM: The fuel filters on these engines can leak gasoline, posing a fire hazard to consumers. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Briggs & Stratton has received six reports of engine fires, one resulting in a minor burn injury. WHAT TO DO: Stop using these recalled Vanguard engines and fuel filters even if no leaks are detected. Briggs & Stratton will install a new fuel filter on the recalled engines free of charge, or provide a free replacement spare fuel filter. For more information, contact your local Briggs & Stratton dealer or call (800) 999-9444 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
Hazard
The fuel filters on these engines can leak gasoline, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Briggs & Stratton has received six reports of engine fires, one resulting in a minor burn injury.
Remedy Instructions
: Stop using these recalled Vanguard engines and fuel filters even if no leaks are detected. Briggs & Stratton will install a new fuel filter on the recalled engines free of charge, or provide a free replacement spare fuel filter.
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.