Chicago Electric chainsaws
10 reports to CPSC, the latest made Feb 18, 2021. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 10reports to CPSC
- Feb 18, 2021the latest report was made
- Nov 11, 2013the earliest
- 0with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Chicago Electric
- Maker
- Harbor Freight ToolsMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- ChainsawsCPSC’s product type: Chain Saws (code 1411), in Yard & Garden: Gardening & Landscaping
Other ways the reports write the brand (3)
“Chicago”, “Chicago Electric Power Tools” and “Chicago Electric (Harbor Frieght)”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| February 2021 | 1 |
| May 2019 | 1 |
| May 2018 | 2 |
| June 2017 | 1 |
| March 2016 | 1 |
| December 2015 | 1 |
| June 2015 | 1 |
| February 2014 | 1 |
| November 2013 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
- Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- No one hurt 7 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- No incident, no one hurt 1 CPSC: No Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
No incident, no one hurt Made Feb 18, 2021, sent to the company Mar 8, 2021, published by CPSC Mar 22, 2021
The product, in the report: Harbor Fright/ Chicago Electric 120 v- /60Hz 14” electric chain saw item 67255
Electric chain saw starts right up and run as soon as it’s plugged in regardless of trigger position.
- Model
- Item 67255
- Serial number
- 369951236
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight tools Zephyrhills Fl
- Where
- Zephyrhills, Florida: Unspecified
- Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 13, 2019, sent to the company May 21, 2019, published by CPSC Jun 5, 2019
The product, in the report: Chicago electric power 14” chainsaw, Item # 67255
Using the Chicago 14” chain saw and the saw would not stop running even after releasing the ON trigger. Had to unplug the chainsaw to make it stop.
- Model
- 67255
- Serial number
- 369951236
- Bought from
- Harbor Frieght, Arizona
- Bought
- May 1, 2014, about then
- Where
- Alma, Arkansas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 53, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made May 20, 2018, sent to the company May 29, 2018, published by CPSC Jun 12, 2018
The product, in the report: Electric Chain Saw
Was preparing to use electric chain saw to remove 4 small trees in my yard.
Plugged in the saw and squeezed the power trigger to confirm everything was ready and working properly. The saw started running and did not stop when I released the trigger. I squeezed the trigger several times trying to get the saw to shut off but in continued to run. I carefully placed the saw on the ground keeping the moving chain from touching anything. I then delicately unplugged the saw keeping the moving chain from touching anything.
- Model
- 67255
- Serial number
- 10071300648
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight Tools, Utah
- Bought
- May 7, 2014, about then
- Where
- Cedar Hills, Utah: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 57, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Emergency room Made May 17, 2018, sent to the company May 25, 2018, published by CPSC Jun 11, 2018
The product, in the report: Red and black electric chain saw
On 10/28/14 while operating a Harbor Freight, Chicago Electric, Electric Chainsaw, the chain saw did not shut off properly. The chain continued to rotate around the motor and bar after I let go of the button. The chainsaw hit a branch and caused the chainsaw to kickback and hit my left, thus cutting the 5th digit on my left hand requiring a trip to [REDACTED] Emergency Room and stitches. The chainsaw was supported in my right hand at the time. There is a scar on my left hand from the incident.
- Model
- 67255
- UPC
- I don’t know.
- Serial number
- 369951342
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight, Pennsylvania
- Bought
- May 15, 2014
- Where
- Edwardsville, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 54, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
-
No one hurt Made Jun 19, 2017, sent to the company Jun 27, 2017, published by CPSC Jul 12, 2017
The product, in the report: Chicago Electric 14in electric chain saw.
I have a Chicago Electric brand electric chain saw item # 67255) purchased from Harbor Frieght in Centereach NY a couple of years ago. I used only a few times to trim a branch or two and cut some wood for my fire pit.
Just the other day while cutting some wood, the power trigger seemed to stick in the on position. It took many times pressing and releasing to get the saw to stop. I found this dangerous and disturbing should it be a manufacturer defect, effecting other units.
I tried a few times after to see what it would do and it intermittently continued to stick with the power on and blade operating.
- Model
- Item # 67255
- UPC
- Na
- Serial number
- 369951229
- Bought from
- Harbor Frieght, New York
- Bought
- Jun 1, 2015, about then
- Where
- Selden, New York: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 55, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric (Harbor Frieght), made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Mar 7, 2016, sent to the company Mar 15, 2016, published by CPSC Mar 29, 2016
The product, in the report: 14” Electric Chainsaw
My 14” electric chainsaw made by Chicago electric power tools and sold by Harbor Freight Tools Model # 67255 suddenly would not shut off when the trigger switch was released. This created a very dangerous situation in which I had stop the saw by stepping on the extension cord and pulling the saw loose at the electrical connection. I took the saw apart and saw that the trigger switch, a small micro switch,wasn’t releasing as it was supposed to. I am in process of calling the company to obtain a new switch which certainly hope works more reliably.
My chainsaw did the exact same thing as the above from report #[REDACTED] LUCKY NOBODY WAS HURT
- Model
- 67255
- Serial number
- 369951320
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight Tools, Texas
- Bought
- Aug 10, 2013
- Where
- Wichita Falls, Texas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 73, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Dec 23, 2015, sent to the company Jan 4, 2016, published by CPSC Jan 19, 2016
The product, in the report: Electric chainsaw
My 14” electric chainsaw made by Chicago electric power tools and sold by Harbor Freight Tools Model # 67255 suddenly would not shut off when the trigger switch was released. This created a very dangerous situation in which I had stop the saw by stepping on the extension cord and pulling the saw loose at the electrical connection. I took the saw apart and saw that the trigger switch, a small micro switch,wasnt releasing as it was supposed to. I am in process of calling the company to obtain a new switch which certainly hope works more reliably.
- Model
- 67255
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight Tools, Pennsylvania
- Where
- Milford, New Jersey: Farm/
Ranch - Who was involved
- Age 65, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric Power Tools, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Hurt, no treatment Made Jun 22, 2015, sent to the company Jun 30, 2015, published by CPSC Jul 15, 2015
The product, in the report: 14 inch Electric Chain Saw model “ Oregon “ from Harbor Freight model # 67255 http://www.harborfreight.com/14-inch-electric-chain-saw-67255.html
Using chain saw to cut wood.
Chain saw has an on / off trigger saw AND an safety interlock switch.
The safety interlock switch is a slide switch which must be postioned and held in the on position in order to activate the on/off trigger switch.
Cutting wood. When wood was cut I released both the trigger switch ( should have turned off imediately) AND the interlock switch. The chainsaw stayed ON and knocked wood scratching left shin. So I disconnected it from the power source.
The chain saw is not turning off via the switch. When it is plugged back in... it will start again.... I’m assuming on off switch is defective.
Okay.. this is slightly really dangerous when a device requiring use of both hands does not turn off and requires user to disconnect from power source while holding device with one hand. Chain saws are pretty dangerous.
- Model
- ’ Oregon ’ model 67255
- Serial number
- 369951226
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight
- Bought
- Sep 13, 2012
- Where
- Columbia, Maryland: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 65, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Feb 27, 2014, sent to the company Mar 10, 2014, published by CPSC Mar 25, 2014
The product, in the report: 14” Electric Chain Saw
Was using a Chicago 14” electric can saw - model 67255 - serial number - 369951233 - purchased from Harbor Freight in Green Bay, Wisconsin in February of 2013 to cut slightly oversized firewood into a size which would fit into my fireplace insert. When I released the safety switch and trigger switch to shut the saw off it failed to shutdown. The electrical connection next to the handle covers the connection and makes it extremely difficult to disconnect power. It was 0 degrees out and the area where I was standing was surrounded by ice. This prevented me from moving to a safe location and nearly impossible to remove the heavy glove from my left hand to disconnect the saw while holding the running saw safely in my right hand. I contacted Tech support at Harbor Freight and was told to have the saw repaired and that they no longer carried replacement switches (saw is one year old and the model is currently on sale in their most recent flyer). I received no indication that they are considering this to be a safety issue and that they will be taking follow-up action..
- Model
- Model 67255 14” Electric Chain Saw
- UPC
- 7 92363 67255
- Serial number
- 369951233
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight Tool Co.
- Bought
- Feb 7, 2013
- Where
- Marinette, Wisconsin: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago Electric Power Tools, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Nov 11, 2013, sent to the company Nov 19, 2013, published by CPSC Dec 4, 2013
The product, in the report: Chicago 14” Electric Chainsaw Model 67255
Product: Chicago 14” Electric Chain Saw. Model 67255. Distributed by Harbor Freight Tools
This is the second saw I had. The first I had to exchange. There is a basic design flaw and the company doesn’t want to acknowledge it. Thank God I haven’t injured myself yet. Here is the problem: There is a front handle with guard (good); There is a lockout switch which slides forward. Below there is a trigger switch which slides forward. This combination is unsafe. The trigger switch should slide up or depress. This is the natural motion. When you push down on the front handle to cut, that removes pressure from the power switch and the saw stops as you try to cut. If you keep pressure on the power switch and handle at the same time, the saw will be pushed forward instead of down and fly free. The more you try to correct the problem, the greater chance of injury. The only for this saw to function is to remove your hand from the front handle and place it near the other hand near the lockout switch. This will then allow the power switch to stay engaged. I tried that and the saw was all over the place but it cut without stopping. That is extremely dangerous so I stopped before I injured myself. I have notified Harbor Freight Tools and they didn’t seem to care. This tool needs to be recalled and have a proper purer switch installed.
- Model
- 67255
- Bought from
- Harbor Freight Tools, South Carolina
- Bought
- May 15, 2013, about then
- Where
- Greer, South Carolina: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 71, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Chicago, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.