BLACK CAT® Electric Pressure Washer

CPSC Recall #05-045 - November 14, 2004

Recall Summary

Recall Number05-045
Recall DateNovember 14, 2004
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units AffectedAbout 30,500
ManufacturerShanghai MeiHao Electric Co. Ltd., of Shanghai, China
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Target and Menard's stores sold the recalled pressure washers between March 2002 and September 2002 for about $145.

Product

BLACK CAT® Electric Pressure Washer

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MM Corporation, of Eden Prairie, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 30,500 BLACK CAT« Electric Pressure Washers. The electric motor in the pressure washer can overheat and melt the housing, possibly igniting nearby flammable materials or exposing live electrical parts.Name of product: BLACK CAT® Electric Pressure WasherUnits: About 30,500Manufacturer: Shanghai MeiHao Electric Co. Ltd., of Shanghai, ChinaU.S. Distributor: RMM Corporation, Eden Prairie, Minn. (since August 15, 2009, calls are being taken by Tricam Industries, Inc., of Eden Prairie, Minnesota)Hazard: The electric motor in the pressure washer can overheat and melt the housing, possibly igniting nearby flammable materials or exposing live electrical parts.Incidents/Injuries: RMM and CPSC are aware of fewer than 20 incidents of pressure washers overheating, including one report of damage to a wooden deck. Many of these incidents occurred when the pressure washer was left running and unattended. No injuries have been reported.Description: The recalled pressure washers have a black plastic housing and a BLACK CAT® logo on both sides of the unit. "MCM International," "Model TW1800" or "Model BC2200" appear on a silver label on the recalled units.Sold at: Target and Menard's stores sold the recalled pressure washers between March 2002 and September 2002 for about $145.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Firm is no longer in business. Remedy is no longer available. Destroy and discard the recalled product.

Hazard

The electric motor in the pressure washer can overheat and melt the housing, possibly igniting nearby flammable materials or exposing live electrical parts.

Incidents & Injuries

RMM and CPSC are aware of fewer than 20 incidents of pressure washers overheating, including one report of damage to a wooden deck. Many of these incidents occurred when the pressure washer was left running and unattended. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Firm no longer in business. Recall remedy no longer available. Discard the product. Do not donate or resell.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.