Hearth Record

CPSC, Stihl Inc. Announce Recall of Backpack Blowers

Home product recall 06-008. Announced by CPSC on Oct 18, 2005.

  • CPSC: stop using it
CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Oct 18, 2005. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The fan wheel on these backpack blowers could break, resulting in pieces of plastic flying out of the blower housing. This poses a risk of injury to the user or a bystander.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

Consumers should stop using these blowers immediately and return them to an authorized Stihl dealer for a free repair.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: Contact Stihl at (800) 610-6677 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit Stihl’s Web site at www.stihlusa.com

Which ones are recalled?

These backpack blowers have serial numbers ranging from 264264925 through 264740832 which are located on top of the engine’s cylinder on the fin. The spark plug boot can be removed to view the serial number from the exterior of the blower.

About 6,230 units, as CPSC gives them.

BR 500 and BR 550 Backpack Blowers.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

CPSC’s photos

CPSC shows 1 photo on its notice. Hearth Record doesn’t copy them; each opens on cpsc.gov.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Stihl Inc., Virginia Beach, Va.
  • Authorized Stihl dealers nationwide from January 2005 through May 2005 for about $450.
  • Made in United States, as the notice gives it.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

Stihl has received five reports of the fan wheel breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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