CPSC, Chamberlain Group Announce Recall to Repair Garage
Door Openers in Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Chamberlain Group Inc.
of Elmhurst, Ill., is announcing a recall to inspect and
repair about 6,000 Sears Craftsman garage door openers used
on swinging or sliding garage doors in Puerto Rico that were
not installed by a Sears authorized installer. If installed
improperly, the garage door openers' safety reversal system
may not operate properly, posing a potential entrapment
hazard.
The Chamberlain Group is aware of a 4-year old boy in
Puerto Rico who died from being caught in a swinging door
operated by a Sears Craftsman garage door opener when the
safety reversing sensor did not operate.
This inspection/repair program is limited to Puerto
Rico, where swinging or sliding doors are used extensively.
The program does not apply to overhead doors. The program is
further limited to those swinging or sliding garage door
openers that have not been installed by Sears authorized
installers and, therefore, may have been installed
improperly. When improperly installed, the swinging or
sliding garage doors will not reverse when they hit an
obstruction such as a car or a child.
The garage door openers have model numbers beginning
with 139.65XXX and 139.53XXX located on the right side panel
of the opener chassis near the force adjustment controls.
Sears stores throughout Puerto Rico sold the garage door
openers from 1980 through 1993 for about $150 to $220.
Sears is sending letters to all customers in Puerto
Rico known to have purchased the garage door opener.
Consumers who purchased these door openers for swinging or
sliding doors, but did not have them installed by a Sears
authorized installer should test the garage door opener's
safety reversal system according to instructions in the
Owner's Manual. Consumers should allow the door to close on
the narrow side of a 2-inch by 4-inch piece of wood held in
its path. Consumers should not place themselves in the path
of the swinging or sliding door!
If the door does not reverse within two seconds of
touching the piece of wood, disconnect the garage door
opener and immediately contact Sears toll-free at
800-473-7247. Sears will arrange for an inspection and, if
necessary, rework of the installation free of charge.
Chamberlain and Sears remind consumers to follow safety
instructions in the Owner's Manual to check the safety
reversal system monthly. If you adjust the force or travel
limit controls, you must check the safety reversal system
again. CPSC knows of approximately 60 children between the
ages of 2 and 14 who were trapped and killed under overhead
automatic garage doors since March 1982. No matter what type
of garage door you own, CPSC reminds consumers to always
operate the garage door opener only when the door is in full
view and free from any obstruction. Keep the door in sight
until it is completely closed. No one should cross the path
of the moving door.