The Recall Desk
ModerateCPSC·23729·Announced 2023-02-23

Harbor Freight Replacement Lower Blade Guards for 12-Inch Miter Saws

Harbor Freight Tools is recalling replacement lower blade guards for 12-inch Chicago Electric Miter Saws because they do not sufficiently cover the saw blade and can break during use, posing an injury hazard.

What this means for you

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source explicitly states no injuries have been reported and the hazard is potential—the guard can break and poses a theoretical injury risk. Under the rubric, when no illnesses or injuries are reported and the hazard is theoretical, the score is at most 3. This is a product-defect recall with no reported harm, warranting a Moderate (2) classification rather than High.

Plain-English summary

Harbor Freight Tools is recalling replacement lower blade guards sold for Chicago Electric Power Tools brand 12-inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saws (item number 61970 with serial numbers less than 370331936). The recalled guards are made of clear and gray polycarbonate with "Chicago Electric" stamped on them. Only replacement guards purchased during or after August 2019 are included in this recall.

The recalled replacement lower blade guards do not sufficiently cover the saw blade and can break when making a cut, posing an injury hazard to the user. The company has received one report of the guard breaking, though no injuries have been reported to date.

About 7,175 units of the recalled guards were sold through Harbor Freight Tools' parts service department from August 2019 through September 2022 for between $10 and $30. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled replacement lower blade guards and contact Harbor Freight for a free replacement lower guard assembly kit and installation instructions. Harbor Freight is contacting all known purchasers.

Consumers can contact Harbor Freight Tools at 800-444-3353 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT, email [email protected], or visit www.harborfreight.com and click on "Recall & Safety" for more information.

The recalled product

Product
Replacement lower blade guards for 12-inch Chicago Electric Miter Saws
Manufacturer
Harbor Freight Tools, of Calabasas, California
Category
Consumer Product — Power Tools / Miter Saw Parts
Hazard
  • blade-guard-failure
  • cutting-injury
  • product-defect
Affected units
7,175

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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