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Black & Decker 18-volt cordless drill/drivers

CPSC Recall #03-164 — July 23, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-164
Recall DateJuly 23, 2003
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 265,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Mass merchandisers
home centers and hardware stores nationwide sold the drill/drivers from September 1997 through February 2002 for between $50 and $80. The drill/drivers were sold separately and as part of various tool kits. 

Product

Black & Decker 18-volt cordless drill/drivers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 265,000 18-volt cordless drill/drivers. The drill's switch can malfunction and overheat, posing the possibility of a fire hazard to consumers.Black & Decker has received twenty reports of melting, smoking, or fires in the drills, including two minor burn injuries.The recalled 18-volt, cordless drill/drivers are orange or jade and have the words, "Black & Decker" printed on the body of the drill. The drill/drivers have the following model numbers and date codes:Model NumberDate CodesColorCD180020011952 through 20020652OrangePS3700973652 through 983052JadePS372520003852 through 20013652JadePS375020002454 through 20005252JadeThe model number is printed on the nameplate on the side of the drill and the date code is printed on the bottom of the handle where the battery is inserted (remove the battery to locate date code). The recalled units were manufactured in China.No other models or date codes are affected by this recall to repair.

Hazard

The drill's switch can malfunction and overheat, posing the possibility of a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Black & Decker has received twenty reports of melting, smoking, or fires in the drills, including two minor burn injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the drill/drivers immediately, remove the battery, and contact Black & Decker to receive a free repair.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Repair) 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.

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