Black and Decker rotary power lawn mowers
6 reports to CPSC, the latest made Aug 4, 2016. 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.
- 6reports to CPSC
- Aug 4, 2016the latest report was made
- Nov 7, 2011the earliest
- 0with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Black and Decker
- Maker
- Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Rotary power lawn mowersCPSC’s product type: Rotary Power Lawn Mowers (code 1448), in Yard & Garden: Lawn Mowers, Leaf Blowers and Lawn Vacuums
Other ways the reports write the brand (1)
“Black & Decker”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| August 2016 | 1 |
| August 2015 | 1 |
| May 2015 | 1 |
| October 2014 | 1 |
| June 2012 | 1 |
| November 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- No one hurt 4 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- Not said 1 CPSC: Unspecified
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.
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No one hurt Made Aug 4, 2016, sent to the company Nov 28, 2016, published by CPSC Dec 12, 2016
The product, in the report: 20” 40volt Lithium Battery operated lawnmower
This consumer is reporting her 20” 40volt Lithium Battery operated cordless lawnmower purchased from Amazon July 12th, 2016.
The caller received the lawnmower July 15th, 2016 she charged the batteries but didn’t attempt to use the mower until August 2nd, 2016 when she put the batteries in both areas (One is storage) then put safety key in and turned it on but the mower began smoking and emitting a smoky odor.
She moved it to a non grassy area at which point she noted that there was plastic melted in an area that appeared to be in the center over the motor then she saw flames three or four inches high and growing, she called emergency or the fire department then noted that the flames were three to four feet high with loud noises and the wind blowing fire to the right of the mower.
There are no injuries being reported.
The South Whidbey Fire Department has pictures of the flames while the consumer has only pictures of the aftermath.
She contacted the .com where she purchased the mower and they refunded the callers monies and she also contacted the manufacturer who apologized for the inconvenience but then referred to their service center.
- Model
- CM2040
- Serial number
- unavailable
- Bought from
- Amazon.com
- Bought
- Jul 12, 2016
- Where
- Clinton, Washington: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Black & Decker, made or sold by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Aug 15, 2015, sent to the company Aug 21, 2015, published by CPSC Sep 14, 2015
The product, in the report: Black and Decker (UPC 885911221450)19 in. 36-Volt Self-Propelled Cordless Electric Mower with Removable Battery Model number: SPCM1936
On July 31, 2015, there was delivered a Black and Decker (UPC 885911221450)19 in. 36-Volt Self-Propelled Cordless Electric Mower with Removable Battery to my address. I tried it out and found its mowing performance to be acceptable. A few days later, I decided to store it by taking advantage of a function advertised for this model, the handle that folds up for better storage. The metal handles consist of two pieces each, one of which has a pin or bolt in the middle, the other a corresponding hole. To disengage the pin and fold the handle, one turns a knob located on the handle a quarter-turn, grips the handle pieces and pries them apart. Once the pins are disengaged, the handle can be folded in half, the pins popped back into place, and the knob reset to lock the handle. I managed to disengage the pins and fold the handles. I re-engaged the pin on one side and turned my attention to the other. The instructions warn the user to be careful during this procedure not to “pinch” ones finger between the handle and the plate, so I was being careful when I did this. When I went to pry the handle piece in order to pop the second pin back into the hole, the considerable tension created by the force required in the maneuver propelled my index finger between the two handle pieces, shearing off a piece from the side of my finger. It’s been two weeks and my finger is still trying to heal. Frankly, I could easily have lost the finger. I feel this incident should have been anticipated by normal testing and that it is a product defect (engineering/design). I am keeping the mower because of the difficulty in returning it and because I need something to mow my lawn. I will not be using the foldable handle function, however, as soon as I figure out how I can re-extend the handles to mow the lawn without taking off a piece of me. This device should be investigated for this danger. Perhaps they could devise a simple tool to do the job rather than manual force.
- Model
- above
- UPC
- 885911221450
- Serial number
- unkn.
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Jul 24, 2015
- Where
- Lakewood, Colorado: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 64, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Black and Decker, made or sold by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No one hurt Made May 7, 2015, sent to the company May 18, 2015, published by CPSC Jun 2, 2015
The product, in the report: Cordless rotary lawn mower
I was using my Black & Decker CM1640 16-Inch 40-volt Cordless Mower yesterday, and when I released the red handle for blade engage/disengage the mower did not stop, but kept running (spinning the blade). The only way I could get it to stop was removed the key or remove the battery. When I reinserted the key, the blade would immediately start spinning, with my depressing the start button and holding down the bladed engage/disengage handle. No injury occurred as I noticed the problem and acted cautiously. However, that red handle is the primary safety feature of the mower and is required to stop the blade when released.
Note: I’ve had the mower for almost a year, and this was the first time this occurred.
I contacted Black & Decker who indicated I should bring it in for warranty service. I suggested to them that they should file a report with the CPSC, but they declined.
- Model
- CM1640
- UPC
- I don’t know
- Serial number
- I don’t know
- Bought from
- Amazon.com
- Bought
- Jun 25, 2014
- Where
- Littleton, Colorado: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 52, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Black & Decker, made or sold by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Not said Made Oct 29, 2014, sent to the company Nov 26, 2014, published by CPSC Dec 11, 2014
The product, in the report: Black and Decker CM1936 Lawn Mower
In September of 2010 I purchased a Black and Deck CM 1936 Lawn Mower. Within a year the reaf flap, I believe designed to keep feet from under the mower, gradually began to tear and eventuall would have torn off. I got it replaced under warranty. However replacements tear in the same way in about a year give or take a month or so. Black and Decker is sending me my fourth one. I have a neighbor who owns a similar model and the flap on that one is gone and has not been replaced. I blieve this is a design flaw and in converstaion with a Black and Decker Customer Service Rep ther are no Black and Decker recall on this issue.
- Model
- CM1936
- UPC
- NA
- Serial number
- NA
- Bought from
- Amazon
- Bought
- Oct 7, 2010
- Where
- West Hartford, Connecticut: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Black and Decker, made or sold by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
-
No one hurt Made Jun 11, 2012, sent to the company Jun 20, 2012, published by CPSC Jul 5, 2012
The product, in the report: Black and Deck 18” 36V cordless lawnmower, model 36VDC, CM1836. Numbers on the bottom read 1 2010 35-49.
We purchased a Black and Decker 18” 36v cordless lawnmower, CM1836, less than a year ago. We have slightly less than average use for living in the Northeast. About two weeks ago, the kill switch arm stopped working abruptly. This is a potentially dangerous situation.
- Model
- 36VDC
- Serial number
- CM1836
- Where
- Newington, Connecticut: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Black and Decker, made or sold by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Nov 7, 2011, sent to the company Nov 30, 2011, published by CPSC Dec 14, 2011
The product, in the report: Cordless Electric Lawnmower
Caller’s Cordless Electric Lawnmower would not hold a charge after a short term of ownership, she contacted the manufacturer sometime around August 2011 who sent her a new charger, however lawnmower still would not hold charge.
Caller took to authorized lawnmower repair shop she thinks in late September and was told, then shown by [REDACTED] who is the only technician that the battery was burned, distorted and had white acid marks showing on it.
Caller said it didn’t appear burned to her but appeared to be bulging out and distorted.
Repair technician advised her to leave battery at the shop to be disposed of because it could damage her car. She agreed & left it there.
Repair tech speculation was that the first charger that came with purchase of the lawnmower could have been faulty, caused an overload and caused the battery to become burned.
Caller contacted manufacturer today, November 7. 2011. [REDACTED] has escalated within their company.
They advised her to provide the pictures in her possession of the burnt battery.
Caller reporting lawnmower to alert the public.
- Model
- CMM1200 24
- Bought
- Jun 15, 2009, about then
- Where
- Hampton, New Hampshire: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- made or sold by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- 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.