The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·10037·Announced 2009-11-12

Homelite Backpack Blowers Recalled for Fuel Leak Fire Hazard

Homelite is recalling about 85,000 backpack blowers because the fuel tank can leak gasoline, posing a fire hazard.

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 leaks, which is a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported beyond minor skin irritation, fitting the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Homelite Consumer Products Inc. is recalling about 85,000 Homelite Mighty Lite backpack blowers due to a fire hazard. The fuel tank on these units can leak gasoline. The affected blowers are red and black and include models UT08580 and UT08580A with specific manufacturing date codes printed on the data label located on the red plastic housing above the choke knob. Products with a green "dot" on the outside of the package or the letters "CA" embossed on the fuel tank are not included in the recall.

Homelite has received 18 reports of fuel tanks leaking gasoline, including one report of minor skin irritation. The blowers were sold at Home Depot stores and various retailers of refurbished products, including Direct Tools Factory Outlets, CPO Homelite, Gardner, Tap Enterprises, Isla Supply, and Heartland America stores nationwide from September 2007 through October 2009 for between $90 and $140.

Consumers should stop using their backpack blowers immediately and contact Homelite for the closest dealer location to schedule a free fuel tank replacement. For additional information, consumers can contact Homelite Consumer Products, Inc. at (800) 242-4672 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit www.homelite.com.

The recalled product

Product
Homelite Backpack Blowers
Category
Consumer Product — Power Tools
Hazard
Affected units
85,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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