The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·00132·Announced 2000-06-27

Tanaka Recalls Hedge Trimmers and Augers Due to Fuel Leak Fire Risk

Tanaka America is recalling hedge trimmers and augers because fuel tank vents can leak, posing a fire hazard. One fire incident with minor damage was reported.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard with one reported incident of a product catching fire and causing property damage, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe category.

Plain-English summary

Tanaka America, of Auburn, Wash., is recalling approximately 7,500 hedge trimmers and 1,400 augers. The recall is due to a defect in the fuel tank vents, which can leak fuel and pose a fire hazard. The affected products are orange with black handles and feature "Tanaka" and the model number on the recoil starter cover.

Tanaka and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have received one report of a hedge trimmer catching fire and causing minor damage. No injuries have been reported. The products were sold nationwide at lawn and garden stores and outdoor power equipment dealers from September 1998 through September 1999. Hedge trimmers sold for about $370 and augers for about $500.

Consumers should stop using the recalled equipment immediately. They should return the product to any authorized Tanaka service dealer for a free repair, which involves fitting the equipment with a redesigned fuel tank. For more information or to locate a dealer, consumers can call Tanaka toll-free at (888) 401-3885 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit Tanaka's website.

The recalled product

Product
Hedge Trimmers and Augers
Manufacturer
Tanaka America, of Auburn, Wash.
Category
Consumer Product — Outdoor Power Equipment
Hazard
Affected units
7,500

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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