DEWALT Cordless Drills

CPSC Recall #08-143 - December 19, 2007

Recall Summary

Recall Number08-143
Recall DateDecember 19, 2007
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 346,000
ManufacturerDEWALT Industrial Tool Company, of Towson, Md.
Manufactured InMexico

Where It Was Sold

Wholesale distributors and retailers from about June 2006 through December 2007 for between $180 and $280.

Product

DEWALT Cordless Drills

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, of Towson, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 346,000 DEWALT Cordless Drills. The trigger switch of the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.Name of Product: DEWALT Cordless DrillsUnits: About 346,000Manufacturer: DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, of Towson, Md.Hazard: The trigger switch of the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: DEWALT has received 11 reports of trigger switches overheating. No injuries or property damage have been reported.Description: This recall involves DEWALT individual cordless drills listed below:Model NumberDescriptionDate CodesDC920Heavy-Duty XRP™ 1/2" (13mm) 18 Volt Cordless Drill/Driver200723 through 200742DC930Heavy-Duty XRP™ 1/2" (13mm) 14.4 Volt Cordless Drill/Driver200625 through 200746DC935Heavy-Duty XRP™ 1/2" (13mm) 14.4 Volt Cordless Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver200627 through 200746DC936Heavy-Duty XRP™ 1/2" (13mm) 14.4 Volt Cordless Hammerdrill/Drill/Driver200635 through 200746DC940Heavy-Duty XRP™ 1/2" (13mm) 12 Volt Cordless Drill/Driver200635 through 200746The model number is printed on a sticker on the side of the unit. The date code is embossed on the bottom of the unit. Units stamped with an "M" following the date code have been repaired and are not included in this recall. The packaging of repaired drills has a green dot sticker near the UPC label.Sold at: Wholesale distributors and retailers from about June 2006 through December 2007 for between $180 and $280.Manufactured in: MexicoRemedy: Consumers should stop using the drills immediately and contact DEWALT for the location of the nearest service center to receive a free inspection and, if necessary, free repair.Consumer Contact: Call DEWALT toll-free at (888) 742-9168 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit firm's website at www.DEWALT.com. 

Hazard

The trigger switch of the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

DEWALT has received 11 reports of trigger switches overheating. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the drills immediately and contact DEWALT for the location of the nearest service center to receive a free inspection and, if necessary, free repair.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, 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 (Replace, 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.