IC Irrigation Controllers Recalled by Toro
Home product recall 85-045. Announced by CPSC on Sep 18, 1985.
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The short answer
Announced by CPSC on Sep 18, 1985. 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?
Laceration
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What should you do?
The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Which ones are recalled?
IC Irrigation Controllers Recalled by Toro NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 1985 Release # 85-045 Toro Recalls 17,000 IC Irrigation Controllers Washington, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Toro Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, today announced the recall of 17,000 IC series irrigation controllers (four models including the IC4, ICOD, IC8 or IC12). The Toro Company has learned that under certain conditions, the end cap of the capacitor in the controller may fail or burst abrupt, scattering tinfoil and paper debris which could cause eye injury. Toro has received four failure reports in 1983 and 1984, which resulted in two non-permanent eye injuries of corneal abrasion. A large capacitor in the irrigation controller’s printed circuit board can fail if the heat sink and the battery connector inadvertently touch each other causing a short circuit. These incidents can occur while the user or servicing person is standing in front of the controller with the door open and cover removed. The Toro IC irrigation controllers are UL listed electronic devices which can be programmed to operate automatic lawn sprinkling systems. The product was marketed nationwide in 1982 and 1983, primarily through irrigation system professional contractors and some retail outlets. Of the 38,752 controllers manufactured which present this problem; approximately 31,000 units were sold and installed in homes and businesses. Approximately 14,000 of the 31,000 units sold have already been modified or the owners have been notified of the problem. In addition, Toro has notified over 11,000 professional contractors. 17,000 units have not yet been modified. The recall controllers can be identified on the plastic cover as a Toro IC4, IC4D, IC8, or IC12, and by the model/serial number decal on the bottom of the unit. The affected model/serial numbers are: Model No. Serial No. 104-06-04 002739 through 002747 010511 through 028551 104-06-06 001501 through 011261 108-06-05 000603 through 012631 112-06-06 000224 through 008818 Owners who have questions or who identify their controller as being recalled should call Toro at 714/688-9221, or may write to the Customer Service Department --The Toro Company, Irrigation Division, 5825 Jasmine Street, Riverside, California 92504. Toro will make arrangements to have units subject to the recall modified at no cost to owners. Toro also advises owners to disregard this recall notice if their unit has already been modified.
Toro IC series irrigation controllers.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Who made and sold it?
- Made by Toro.
CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Was anyone hurt?
The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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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.
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.