The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·80037·Announced 1980-10-02

Black & Decker Lawn Mowers Recalled Due to Battery Fire Hazard

Black & Decker is recalling 19-inch cordless lawn mowers because a battery defect may cause fires during storage. Consumers are advised to remove fuses and store units away from flammables.

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 with eight reported incidents but no reported injuries or deaths, fitting the rubric for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are warning owners of more than 18,000 19-inch Cordless Twin Motor battery-powered lawn mowers about a potential fire hazard. The defect involves the mower's battery, which may catch fire while the unit is sitting unused in a garage or storage area. The mowers, manufactured in 1976 and sold nationwide between January 1976 and August 1980, are orange and white with two blades. The model number 8055 is embossed on the top of the plastic housing next to the battery.

The company has received eight complaints from consumers reporting that the battery caught fire during storage. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to these fires, nor have there been reports of battery fires occurring while the mowers were in use. Black & Decker is currently testing the model 8055 units to determine the exact cause of the fires.

While the company develops a repair program, consumers are urged to remove the fuses from the battery before placing the mower in storage. Additionally, consumers should store the mower at a safe distance from flammable materials. To obtain instructions on removing battery fuses and to arrange for future corrections, consumers should call Black & Decker's toll-free number at 800-638-3830. Maryland residents should call collect at 301-820-2406.

The recalled product

Product
Black & Decker 19-inch Cordless Twin Motor battery-powered lawn mowers
Manufacturer
Black & Decker
Category
Consumer Product — Lawn Mowers
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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