Toro Power Sweep Electric Blowers
CPSC Recall #07-253 — July 25, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-253 |
| Recall Date | July 25, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 900,000 |
| Manufacturer | The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Toro dealers and various mass retailers nationwide including The Home Depot |
| Lowes |
| Target and K-Mart stores from January 2000 through late December 2002 for about $32. |
Product
Toro Power Sweep Electric Blowers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 900,000 Toro Power Sweep Electric Blowers. The blower's impeller, which is a rotating component on the blower, can break, resulting in pieces of plastic flying out of the blower. This poses a risk of serious injury to the user or a bystander.Name of Product: Toro Power Sweep Electric BlowersUnits: About 900,000Manufacturer: The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn.Hazard: The blower's impeller, which is a rotating component on the blower, can break, resulting in pieces of plastic flying out of the blower. This poses a risk of serious injury to the user or a bystander.Incidents/Injuries: Toro has received 154 reports of broken impellers, including 21 reports of minor cuts and bruises resulting from projected impeller pieces.Description: The recall involves Toro Power Sweep electric blower model 51586 that was manufactured between 2000 and 2002. The electric blowers have serial numbers that range between 000055100 and 220255609. There are two decals on the main housing of the blower. One decal reads, "TORO Power Sweep" and the decal on the opposite side of the blower contains the model number and serial number. The recalled units can be identified by a black impeller fan, which can be seen through the air inlet screen on the bottom of the unit.Sold through: Toro dealers and various mass retailers nationwide including The Home Depot, Lowes, Target and K-Mart stores from January 2000 through late December 2002 for about $32.Manufactured in: United StatesRemedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled blowers immediately and contact Toro to receive a replacement blower.Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Toro at (888) 279-3191 between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday. Consumers can also visit the Toro website at www.toro.com. The Toro Company has notified registered owners directly.
Hazard
The blower's impeller, which is a rotating component on the blower, can break, resulting in pieces of plastic flying out of the blower. This poses a risk of serious injury to the user or a bystander.
Incidents & Injuries
Toro has received 154 reports of broken impellers, including 21 reports of minor cuts and bruises resulting from projected impeller pieces.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled blowers immediately and contact Toro to receive a replacement blower.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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) 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.