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"Firestorm" and "Quantum Pro" cordless drills/drivers

CPSC Recall #02-234 — August 19, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-234
Recall DateAugust 19, 2002
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 950,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Home centers and hardware stores throughout the U.S.
Puerto Rico and Canada sold the drill/drivers from March 1999 through December 2001 for between $50 and $200. The drill/drivers were sold separately and as part of various tool kits.

Product

"Firestorm" and "Quantum Pro" cordless drills/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 950,000 cordless drill/drivers. The drill's switch can malfunction and overheat, posing the possibility of a fire hazard to consumers.Black & Decker has received 45 reports of drill switches overheating, causing two minor burns.The recalled cordless drill/drivers are orange and bear the word "Firestorm" or jade and bear the words "Quantum Pro." The drill/drivers have the following model numbers and date codes:DescriptionModel NumberDate Code Ranges14.4 volt FirestormCD632990852 thru 2000505214.4 volt FirestormHP532990152 thru 2000165214.4 volt FirestormFS144220002252 thru 2001185214.4 volt Quantum ProQ145990252 thru 2000115215.6 volt FirestormFS1560993752 thru 2000075218 volt FirestormFS180220002452 thru 2001065218 volt FirestormHP932990152 thru 2001245218 volt FirestormHP93219983352 thru 1998405218 volt Quantum ProQ185990252 thru 20011052The model numbers are located on the name plate on the side of the drill and the dates codes are located on the bottom of the handle where the battery is inserted (remove battery to locate date code). These drill/drivers were manufactured in China.Home centers and hardware stores throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada sold the drill/drivers from March 1999 through December 2001 for between $50 and $200. The drill/drivers were sold separately and as part of various tool kits.Consumers should stop using their drill/drivers immediately, remove the battery, and call Black & Decker at (866) 821-5444 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to arrange for a free repair. For additional information, consumers can log on to the company's website at www.blackanddecker.com.

Hazard

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

Incidents & Injuries

Black & Decker has received 45 reports of drill switches overheating, causing two minor burns.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using their drill/drivers immediately, remove the battery, and call Black & Decker at (866) 821-5444 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to arrange for 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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