The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·22194·Announced 2022-07-28

Black Diamond Avalanche Transceivers Recalled for Loss of Search Mode

Black Diamond Equipment is recalling about 76,300 avalanche transceivers that may fail to switch from SEND mode to SEARCH mode, preventing rescuers from locating buried skiers and risking severe injury or death.

What this means for you

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: This is a high-risk product where severe injury or death could result from the failure, but no injuries or deaths have been reported. The hazard is real and functional (26 reports of malfunction), but the risk is potential rather than realized.

Plain-English summary

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. is recalling PIEPS Pro BT, Powder BT, DSP Sport, DSP Pro, DSP Pro Ice, Micro BT Button, Micro BT Sensor, and Micro BT Race avalanche transceivers, as well as Black Diamond-branded Recon BT and Guide BT avalanche transceivers. Approximately 76,300 units were sold in the United States.

The recalled transceivers may fail to switch from SEND mode into SEARCH mode. If this occurs, the device cannot locate a skier in an avalanche, which could result in severe bodily harm or death if the skier is buried under snow. Black Diamond has received 26 reports of the search mode not working properly, but no injuries have been reported.

The transceivers were sold through Liberty Mountain, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), and other specialty outdoor stores nationwide, as well as online at www.backcountry.com, between January 2013 and April 2022 for between $300 and $450.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled transceivers and perform a safety check to verify if the device can switch into Search Mode. Instructions are available at www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/content/beacon-notification/. Consumers with non-functioning devices should contact Black Diamond at 866-306-0865 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MT, Monday through Friday) or visit www.blackdiamondequipment.com to receive a prepaid shipping label for free repair or replacement.

The recalled product

Product
Avalanche Transceivers
Manufacturer
Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., of Salt Lake City, Utah
Category
Consumer Product — Outdoor Safety Equipment
Hazard
  • search-mode-failure
  • avalanche-rescue-failure
  • severe-injury-or-death
Affected units
76,300

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same category