Lawnmowers Recalled by Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing Inc.

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2003
Release # 04-009

Company Phone Number: (800) 426-7701
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing Inc. Announce Recall of Lawnmowers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Honda Harmony Walk-Behind Lawnmowers

Units: 30,000

Manufacturer: Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing Inc., of Swepsonville, N.C.

Hazard: If the lawnmower strikes an object with sufficient force, the crankshaft can bend. Vibration created by a bent crankshaft can eventually result in a fatigue failure of the Roto-stop™ blade brake control assembly. This can allow the cutting blade to continue rotating after the blade control lever is released, posing a risk of injury to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: American Honda has received six reports of broken stop plates. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

Description: These are Honda Harmony 21-inch, walk-behind mowers with model numbers HRB216TXA or HRB216HXA. The model numbers are located on a metal plate behind the engine, just in front of the rear discharge opening. These black and red mowers have "Honda Harmony" printed in white on the front.

Sold at: Power Equipment dealers and Home Depot stores nationwide from November 2000 through June 2003 for between $700 and $760.

Manufactured in: United States.

Remedy: Honda Lawn and Garden dealers will repair these mowers by replacing the Roto-stopTM mechanism.

Consumer Contact: To locate a servicing Honda Lawn and Garden dealer, consumers should call American Honda at (800) 426-7701 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or go to the Web site at www.hondapowerequipment.com