Black & Decker Model No. 8055 Battery Powered Lawn Mowers

CPSC Recall #82-007 - March 8, 1982

Recall Summary

Recall Number82-007
Recall DateMarch 8, 1982
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 18,000

Product

Black & Decker Model No. 8055 Battery Powered Lawn Mowers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Black & Decker Manufacturing Company, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, today announced the recall and repurchase of approximately 18,000 of its Model No. 8055 19" Battery Powered (Cordless) Lawn Mowers because of a possible fire hazard. The lawn mowers were sold nationwide between 1976 and the present and are orange and white in color. The company said it wants to recover every mower of that model and is offering refunds to owners. Black & Decker has received reports of a possible fire hazard associated with the battery used to power the Model No. 8055 Lawn Mower. These reports indicate that under certain circumstances, it is possible for a fire to occur as a result of an unexpected discharge of the lawn mower battery. The discharge occurs when the lawn mower battery is not in use and is either being recharged or is unattended. Black & Decker will grant a prorated refund to all owners of the Model 8055 Battery 'Powered Lawn Mower and is attempting to locate all owners to inform them of the possible fire hazard and the repurchase program. Black & Decker will mail certified letters to all persons who have informed the company that they own one of the mowers to provide them instructions on how to return the mower and obtain a refund. This recall and refund program applies to every Model No. 8055 Lawn Mower, including those which may have been modified by Black & Decker during the past year. All owners of the model No. 8055 Battery Powered Lawn Mower who have not received a certified letter from Black & Decker should contact the company immediately by calling (410) 665-7400, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or call the Commission's toll free Hotline at (800) 638-2772.

Hazard

Under certain circumstances, it is possible for a fire to occur as a result of an unexpected discharge of the lawn mower battery. The discharge occurs when the lawn mower battery is not in use and is either being recharged or is unattended.

Remedy Instructions

Black & Decker will grant a prorated refund to all owners of the Model 8055 Battery Powered Lawn Mower and is attempting to locate all owners to inform them of the possible fire hazard and the repurchase program. All owners who have not received a certified letter from Black & Decker should contact the company immediately by calling (410) 665-7400.

What Should You Do?

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