The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·16065·Announced 2015-12-22

Carrier Recalls Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps for Fire Hazard

Carrier is recalling about 285,000 packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps because the power cord plug can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard with reported injuries (burns and smoke inhalation) and property damage (hotel fires), which meets the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Carrier Corporation is recalling about 285,000 packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) and heat pumps (PTHP) sold under the Bryant, Carrier, and Fast brand names. The recall includes units with original power cords and those that received a supplemental power cord during a previous recall in November 2007. The affected units have capacities of 7,000, 9,000, 12,000, and 15,000 BTUs and plug into 208/230-volt, 20-amp outlets. The specific models involved are Carrier 52CE, 52CQ, 52PE, and 52PQ; Bryant 840 and 841; and Fast 840 and 841.

The power cord plug on these units can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Carrier has received reports of approximately 47 incidents of overheating. Two of these incidents involved hotel fires. In one fire, a consumer suffered burns and smoke inhalation. The other incidents involved scorched or melted cord heads or wall outlets with no injuries reported.

These units were sold through HVAC dealers and factory-direct sales from January 2002 through December 2009 for between $425 and $675. Consumers should stop using and unplug the recalled units immediately. They should contact Carrier to receive a free replacement cord.

The recalled product

Product
Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) and Heat Pumps (PTHP)
Manufacturer
Carrier Corporation, of Farmington, Conn.
Category
Consumer Product — Heating and Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Hazard
Affected units
285,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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