FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2002
Release # 03-053
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 462-5482 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051
CPSC, Makita U.S.A. Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Circular Saws
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, (CPSC), Makita U.S.A. Inc., of La Mirada, Calif., is
recalling about 180,000 circular saws. The lower blade guard of the saw
can become jammed, which can result in the consumer coming in contact
with the blade and suffering a serious injury.
Makita U.S.A. Inc. has not received any reports of incidents.
This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.
The recall involves 7 1/4-inch circular saws with the model number
5740NB. The model number is located on the silver nameplate next to the
name "Makita." The saw's housing is blue-green and the name "Makita"
appears on the metal blade guard and silver nameplate on the motor
housing. The recalled saws were manufactured in China.
Home centers, hardware stores and industrial suppliers nationwide
sold the circular saws from April 1998 to November 2002 for between $99
and $119.
Consumers should stop using the circular saws immediately and
return them to the nearest Makita factory service center for a free
repair. For more information on how to return the saw or to locate the
nearest Makita factory service center, consumers should contact Makita
U.S.A. Inc. at (800) 462-5482 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Any 5740NB circular saws with an "N" preceding the serial number
on the nameplate and a blue dot on the shipping carton are not involved
in this recall.
