Briggs & Stratton OHV Snow Thrower Engines
CPSC Recall #07-558 — June 17, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-558 |
| Recall Date | June 17, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 480,000 |
| Manufacturer | Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Wauwatosa, Wis. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Various snow thrower dealers nationwide from June 2000 through February 2007 for between $630 and $2 |
| 350 for the snow thrower. |
Product
Briggs & Stratton OHV Snow Thrower Engines
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Wauwatosa, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 480,000 OHV Snow Thrower Engines. When the engines are primed, excess fuel can overflow into the carburetor and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Name of Product: Briggs & Stratton OHV Snow Thrower EnginesUnits: About 480,000Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Wauwatosa, Wis.Hazard: When the engines are primed, excess fuel can overflow into the carburetor and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Briggs & Stratton has received 48 reports of fire. There have been no reports of injury. The firm has received one report of minor property damage.Description: The recall includes snow equipment with Briggs & Stratton OHV engines that have model numbers beginning with 12, 15, 20, or 21, and a date of manufacture (DOM) code between 000601xx and 070301xx. The engines were installed on the following brand snow throwers: Ariens, Canadiana, Craftsman, Frontier Equipment, Husqvarna, Poulan Pro, Simplicity and Snapper. The engine model number and DOM information are located on the cylinder shield or rocker cover. Call for more information about determining if your snow thrower engine is included in the recall.Sold at: Various snow thrower dealers nationwide from June 2000 through February 2007 for between $630 and $2,350 for the snow thrower.Manufactured in: United StatesRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the snow throwers. Call or contact the firms listed below to arrange for the free repair.Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Briggs & Stratton toll-free at (866) 478-7855 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the company's website at www.briggsandstratton.com. Dealers can be found by using the Dealer Locator at the Briggs & Stratton's website. Consumers with Craftsman brand snow throwers should call Sears toll-free at (800) 659-7026 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.Note: Keep fuel or equipment with fuel in tank away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters or other appliances that have a pilot light or other ignition source, because they can ignite vapors.
Hazard
When the engines are primed, excess fuel can overflow into the carburetor and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Briggs & Stratton has received 48 reports of fire. There have been no reports of injury. The firm has received one report of minor property damage.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the snow throwers. Call or contact the firms listed below to arrange for the 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.
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.