Snow Blowers Recalled by The Toro Company Due to Fire Hazard

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jul 14, 2010, 01:00 ET

WASHINGTON, July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following product. Consumers should stop using products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

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Name of product: Power Clear 180 Single Stage Snow Blowers

Units: About 35,700 in the United States and 2,300 in Canada

Manufacturer: The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn.

Hazard: Exposure to ethanol in gasoline can cause the carburetor needle to become corroded. A corroded needle can stick in the open position and allow fuel to leak from the carburetor, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Toro has received 2,200 reports of carburetor leaks. No fires or injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Toro^® Power Clear 180 Single Stage snow blowers. The recalled snow blowers have model numbers 38272 and 38282. Serial numbers included in the recall range from 310000001 through 310999999. The model and serial number can be found on a decal on the lower right side of the snow blower.

Sold at: Toro dealers and The Home Depot stores nationwide from November 2009 through May 2010 for between $400 and $440.

Manufactured in: U.S.A.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately check to see if their snow blowers are included in this recall and contact an authorized Toro service dealer to arrange a free repair. To obtain the location of the nearest dealer, consumers should contact Toro.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Toro toll-free at (877) 738-4440 between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.toro.com.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from over about 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or re-sell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772, teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this press release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, www.cpsc.gov

Health Canada, www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Firm's Recall Hotline: (877) 738-4440

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission