Sears Craftsman Garage Door Openers Recalled for Entrapment Risk in Puerto Rico

Plain-English summary

The Chamberlain Group, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling approximately 6,000 Sears Craftsman garage door openers used on swinging or sliding garage doors in Puerto Rico. The recall is limited to units that were not installed by a Sears authorized installer. The affected openers have model numbers beginning with 139.65XXX and 139.53XXX, located on the right side panel of the opener chassis near the force adjustment controls. These products were sold by Sears stores in Puerto Rico from 1980 through 1993 for approximately $150 to $220.

If installed improperly, the garage door openers' safety reversal system may not operate correctly. This failure poses a potential entrapment hazard, as the doors may not reverse when they hit an obstruction such as a car or a child. The Chamberlain Group is aware of a four-year-old boy in Puerto Rico who died from being caught in a swinging door operated by a Sears Craftsman garage door opener when the safety reversing sensor did not operate.

Consumers who purchased these door openers for swinging or sliding doors but did not have them installed by a Sears authorized installer should test the safety reversal system according to the Owner's Manual. To test, allow the door to close on the narrow side of a 2-inch by 4-inch piece of wood held in its path. If the door does not reverse within two seconds of touching the wood, disconnect the garage door opener and immediately contact Sears toll-free at 800-473-7247. Sears will arrange for a free inspection and, if necessary, rework of the installation. Consumers should not place themselves in the path of the moving door during testing.

The recalled product

Product

Sears Craftsman garage door openers

Manufacturer

Sears

Category

Consumer Product — Garage Door Openers

Hazard

• entrapment
• crush-injury

Distribution

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