The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·04171·Announced 2004-06-29

Echo Recalls Gas-Powered Hand Tools Due to Fuel Line Fire Hazard

Echo Inc. is recalling about 540,000 gas-powered hand tools because fuel lines may leak gasoline, posing a fire hazard. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard due to fuel leakage, which is a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Echo Inc. is recalling approximately 540,000 gas-powered grass trimmers, brush cutters, hedge clippers, power blowers, and power edgers. The recall is due to a defect in the fuel lines, which can develop an "alligator surface" appearance that may lead to the leakage of gasoline and fuel vapor. This condition poses a fire hazard to consumers.

The affected tools were sold nationwide at Home Depot, home centers, hardware stores, and power equipment dealers from February 2003 to May 2004 for between $149 and $300. Echo has received three reports of fuel leakage, but there have been no reported injuries or property damage.

Consumers should stop using the recalled tools immediately. To identify if a tool is affected, check the model and serial numbers on the product nameplate against the specific list provided in the recall notice. Consumers can contact an Echo dealer for a free repair or call Echo toll-free at (800) 673-1558 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

The recalled product

Product
Echo-brand gas-powered grass trimmers, brush cutters, hedge clippers, power blowers, and power edgers
Manufacturer
Echo Inc., of Lake Zurich, Ill.
Category
Consumer Product — Power Tools
Hazard
Affected units
540,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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