Tecumseh engines with fuel shut-off valves on various brands of outdoor power equipment

CPSC Recall #99-177 - September 29, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-177
Recall DateSeptember 29, 1999
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 118,000

Where It Was Sold

Mass merchandise stores nationwide sold power equipment with the recalled engines from June 1999 to September 1999 for about $800 to $2
000. The products were also sold through authorized factory dealerships.

Product

Tecumseh engines with fuel shut-off valves on various brands of outdoor power equipment

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tecumseh Products Co., of Grafton, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 118,000 engines equipped with a fuel shut- off valve on various brands of outdoor power equipment. Fuel can leak from a small hole in the engine's fuel line, presenting fire and explosion hazards to consumers. Tecumseh Products Co. has received two reports of fuel lines leaking. No injuries have been reported. The Tecumseh engines with fuel shut-off valves that are being recalled have D.O.M. numbers from 9121 through 9233. The D.O.M. number is located on the engine's label. The Tecumseh name is found on the engine and on the engine's label. These engines are primarily on snow blowers. Augers and post hole diggers, log splitters, shredders, irrigators and ventilating fans also have been equipped with these engines.   Power Equipment Brand Name Snow Blowers Ariens Frigidaire Garden Way MTD Murray Simplicity Snapper Toro Augers and Post Hole Diggers Ardisam General Equipment Co. Log Splitters Brave Shredders Garden Way Irrigators Wade Ventilating Fans Super Vacuum Tempest Technology Mass merchandise stores nationwide sold power equipment with the recalled engines from June 1999 to September 1999 for about $800 to $2,000. The products were also sold through authorized factory dealerships. Consumers should stop using the equipment immediately and call Tecumseh toll-free at (888) 271-4048 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. CDT Monday through Saturday to arrange for a free repair.

Hazard

Fuel can leak from a small hole in the engine's fuel line, presenting fire and explosion hazards to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Tecumseh Products Co. has received two reports of fuel lines leaking. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the equipment immediately and call Tecumseh toll-free at (888) 271-4048 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. CDT Monday through Saturday 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.

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.