PowerSmart snow blowers
CPSC Recall #18-173 — June 8, 2018
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 18-173 |
| Recall Date | June 8, 2018 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 34,600 (in addition, about 11,800 were sold in Canada) |
| Manufacturer | Zhejiang DoBest Power Tools Co., of China |
| Importer | Amerisun Inc., of Itasca, Ill. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| The Home Depot stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com |
| Ebay.com |
| Homedepot.com |
| Walmart.com |
| and other websites from July 2015 through February 2018 for between $500 and $800. |
Product
PowerSmart snow blowers
Description
Hazard
The pulley bolt can loosen and cause the snow blower to get stuck in drive mode, posing an injury hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
Amerisun has received 20 reports of loose pulley bolts, 15 in the U.S. and five in Canada, including eight reports of the snow blower getting stuck in drive mode. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snow blowers and inspect their snow blower to determine if it has a loose pulley bolt. Inspection instructions can be found at: https://powersmartusa.com/pages/bolt-inspection-instruction-sheet. Consumers with a loose pulley bolt should contact Amerisun for a free repair kit or for instructions on how to get the bolt tightened free of charge.
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.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.