The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·23190·Announced 2023-04-27

Black Diamond Recon LT Avalanche Transceivers Recalled for Communication Loss Risk

Black Diamond is recalling about 1,550 Recon LT avalanche transceivers because they can unexpectedly enter search mode due to beacon interference, potentially failing to transmit a skier's position during an avalanche rescue.

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: The hazard involves risk of severe bodily harm or death in a life-critical emergency scenario (avalanche rescue), and the defect poses a direct risk of harm. Although no injuries have been reported to date, the source explicitly states the potential outcome is "severe bodily harm or death," making this a high-risk product where injury has not yet been reported, fitting severity level 3.

Plain-English summary

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. is recalling approximately 1,550 Recon LT avalanche transceivers sold in the United States between May 2021 and March 2023. The recalled units were sold as standalone products and as part of avalanche safety sets through specialty outdoor retailers including REI, Liberty Mountain, and online through blackdiamond.com, backcountry.com, and evo.com, priced between $350 and $500.

The recalled transceivers can unexpectedly enter search mode due to interference from other beacons. When this occurs, the device may fail to transmit the position of buried survivors, resulting in delayed search and rescue operations. This failure could lead to severe bodily harm or death if a skier is buried under snow. The manufacturer has received seven reports of the transceiver mode changing unexpectedly during use, though no injuries have been reported.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled transceivers. Black Diamond is offering a free remedy consisting of a firmware update. This can be performed by downloading the Pieps App for iOS or Android, connecting the transceiver via Bluetooth, and following on-screen prompts. Alternatively, consumers can take the transceiver to a Black Diamond store or mail it to the Black Diamond service center for the firmware installation. Consumers can also request a full refund. For more information, contact Black Diamond toll-free at 866-306-0865 (Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm MT), email [email protected], or visit the product recall page at blackdiamondequipment.com.

The recalled product

Product
Recon LT Avalanche Transceivers
Manufacturer
Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., of Salt Lake City, Utah
Category
Consumer Product — Outdoor Safety Equipment
Hazard
  • signal-loss
  • device-malfunction
  • emergency-communication-failure
Affected units
1,550

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

UPCs (3)

  • 793661495475
  • 793661512837
  • 793661518532

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same category