FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2003
Release # 03-091
Makita Recall Hotline: (800) 462-5482 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051
CPSC, Makita U.S.A. Announce Recall to Repair Electric Sanders
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Makita U.S.A. Inc., of La Mirada, Calif., is
voluntarily recalling about 350,000 electric orbit sanders. The pads on
the sanders can break apart during use and strike the operator, posing
an injury hazard to consumers.
Makita U.S.A. Inc. has received 13 reports of pads coming apart,
including three minor injuries that resulted from pieces of the pad
striking consumers.
The recalled sanders include the BO5000 and BO5001 model numbers,
which can be found on the silver nameplate on the sander's body. The
sander's housing is blue and the name "Makita" appears in large white
letters on the motor housing. These sanders were manufactured in the
United States.
Home centers, hardware stores, and industrial suppliers nationwide
sold the sanders from April 1992 through February 2003 for between $110
and $125.
Consumers should stop using the recalled sanders immediately and
return them to the nearest Makita factory service center for a free
repair. For more information on how to return the sanders or to locate
the nearest Makita factory service center, consumers should contact
Makita at (800) 462-5482 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday or log on to the company's website at www.makitatools.com
No other Makita sanders are involved in this recall. Any BO5000
or BO5001 sanders with the letters "PUR" on the pad are not involved in
this recall.
