CPSC,Tanaka American Recall Backpack Blowers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tanaka America of Kent, Wash., is announcing the recall of approximately 11,000 Tanaka and Ariens leaf blowers. The blower's fuel tank could leak, presenting a possible fire hazard.

The blowers are mounted on a black metal backpack frame with padded shoulder staps, an orange fuel tank, and black blower tubes. The names and model numbers of the manufacturer are printed in the center of the blower's fuel tank or on the recoil starter. Tanaka models TBL-455 and TBL-500 and the Ariens model BB-430 blowers are involved in this recall.

The leaf blowers were sold nationwide from January 1986 to December 1992 for between $400 and $460 each.

Consumers who own Tanaka and Ariens blowers with these model numbers should stop using them immediately and return them to any Authorized Tanaka Servicing dealer. The backpack blowers will be fitted with a redesigned fuel tank at no charge. For more information, consumers should call Tanaka toll-free at (800) 313-5580.

Tanaka has not received any reports of consumers who were injured in incidents involving the fuel leaks. Tanaka is conducting this recall to prevent the possibility of injury.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.

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