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Garage Door Openers

CPSC Recall #97-116 — May 4, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-116
Recall DateMay 4, 1997
Remedy TypeInspect, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 6,000

Where It Was Sold

Sears

Product

Garage Door Openers

Description

Washington, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Chamberlain Group Inc. of Elmhurst, Ill., is announcing a recall to inspect and repair about 6,000 Sears Craftsman garage door openers used on swinging or sliding garage doors in Puerto Rico that were not installed by a Sears authorized installer. If installed improperly, the garage door openers' safety reversal system may not operate properly, posing a potential entrapment hazard.The Chamberlain Group is aware of a 4-year old boy in Puerto Rico who died from being caught in a swinging door operated by a Sears Craftsman garage door opener when the safety reversing sensor did not operate.This inspection/repair program is limited to Puerto Rico, where swinging or sliding doors are used extensively. The program does not apply to overhead doors. The program is further limited to those swinging or sliding garage door openers that have not been installed by Sears authorized installers and, therefore, may have been installed improperly. When improperly installed, the swinging or sliding garage doors will not reverse when they hit an obstruction such as a car or a child. The garage door openers have model numbers beginning with 139.65XXX and 139.53XXX located on the right side panel of the opener chassis near the force adjustment controls. Sears stores throughout Puerto Rico sold the garage door openers from 1980 through 1993 for about $150 to $220.Sears is sending letters to all customers in Puerto Rico known to have purchased the garage door opener. Consumers who purchased these door openers for swinging or sliding doors but did not have them installed by a Sears authorized installer should test the garage door opener's safety reversal system according to instructions in the Owner's Manual. Consumers should allow the door to close on the narrow side of a 2-inch by 4-inch piece of wood held in its path. Consumers should not place themselves in the path of the swinging or sliding door!If the door does not reverse within two seconds of touching the piece of wood, disconnect the garage door opener and immediately contact Sears toll-free at 800-473-7247. Sears will arrange for an inspection and, if necessary, rework of the installation free of charge.Chamberlain and Sears remind consumers to follow safety instructions in the Owner's Manual to check the safety reversal system monthly. If you adjust the force or travel limit controls, you must check the safety reversal system again. CPSC knows of approximately 60 children between the ages of 2 and 14 who were trapped and killed under overhead automatic garage doors since March 1982. No matter what type of garage door you own, CPSC reminds consumers to always operate the garage door opener only when the door is in full view and free from any obstruction. Keep the door in sight until it is completely closed. No one should cross the path of the moving door.

Incidents & Injuries

The Chamberlain Group is aware of a 4-year old boy in Puerto Rico who died from being caught in a swinging door operated by a Sears Craftsman garage door opener when the safety reversing sensor did not operate.

Remedy Instructions

Sears is sending letters to all customers in Puerto Rico known to have purchased the garage door opener. Consumers who purchased these door openers for swinging or sliding doors but did not have them installed by a Sears authorized installer should test the garage door opener's safety reversal system according to instructions in the Owner's Manual. Consumers should allow the door to close on the narrow side of a 2-inch by 4-inch piece of wood held in its path. Consumers should not place themselves in the path of the swinging or sliding door!

What Should You Do?

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

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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 (Inspect, Repair) 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.

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