Black & Decker Expands Recall of Cordless Electric Lawnmowers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Black & Decker and Craftsman Brand Cordless Electric Lawnmowers

Units: About 160,000 mowers -- Note: 140,000 of these Black & Decker and Craftsman brand lawnmowers were recalled in September 2002, but also are included in this recall.

Manufacturer: Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md.

Hazard: An electrical component in the lawnmowers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Black & Decker has received 10 additional reports of electrical components overheating, including one additional report of a fire extending beyond the mower. -- Note: The original recall involved 11 reports of electrical components overheating. One of these resulted in a minor hand burn and nine resulted in reports of minor property damage extending beyond the mower.

Description: The mowers were sold under both the Black & Decker and Craftsman brand names. The recalled Black & Decker mowers have the model CMM1000 or CMM1000R and are labeled as Type 1 through Type 4, both of which are located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. Mowers labeled as Type 5 are not included in this recall. The Black & Decker mowers have either an orange or green deck with a black motor cover. The Craftsman-brand mowers have model number 900.370520 and include all date codes and types. The model number is located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. The Craftsman mowers have a dark green deck with a black motor cover.

Sold by: Home center, hardware and discount stores, and authorized Black & Decker dealers nationwide from February 1996 through December 2005 for between $360 and $450. Craftsman-brand mowers were sold at Sears and Orchard Supply Hardware stores nationwide from January 1998 through December 2000 for between $360 and $400.

Manufactured In: United States and Canada

Remedy: All consumers should stop using the lawnmowers immediately and call for information on receiving a free inspection and repair if necessary. Consumers who had their mowers repaired as a result of the previous recall should have their mowers again inspected and repaired, if necessary, as part of this recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, consumers with Black & Decker mowers should contact Black & Decker toll-free at (866) 229-5570 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.blackanddecker.com Consumers with Craftsman-brand lawnmowers should call (800) 659-7026 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.