Echo string trimmers and edgers
6 reports to CPSC, the latest made Sep 5, 2026. 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
- Sep 5, 2026the latest report was made
- Aug 8, 2011the earliest
- 3with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Echo
- Maker
- ECHO Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- String trimmers and edgersPowered, not brush cuttersCPSC’s product type: Lawn Trimmers or Edgers, Powered (Excl. Brushcutters) (code 1464), in Yard & Garden: Gardening & Landscaping
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 1 |
| June 2026 | 1 |
| September 2018 | 1 |
| May 2016 | 1 |
| August 2011 | 2 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Death 1
- First aid 1 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- Hurt, care not known 1 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known
- No one hurt 3 CPSC: 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.
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No one hurt Made Sep 5, 2026, sent to the company Sep 10, 2026, published by CPSC Sep 24, 2026
The product, in the report: Product: ECHO SRM-2620T, 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke X Series Pro Straight Shaft String Trimmer with High Torque Gear Ratio and Speed-Feed Bump Head Manufacturing Marking: May 2026 Manufacturer: ECHO / Yamabiko Corporation Retailer: The Home Depot [REDACTED]
PRODUCT SAFETY INCIDENT: COMPLETE CUTTING-HEAD SEPARATION DURING FIRST OPERATION
Product: ECHO SRM-2620T, 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke X Series Pro Straight Shaft String Trimmer with High Torque Gear Ratio and Speed-Feed Bump Head Serial Number: U87112046755 Manufacturing Marking: May 2026 Manufacturer: ECHO / Yamabiko Corporation Retailer: The Home Depot Home Depot Order Number: [REDACTED] Date Ordered: June 24, 2026 Date Delivered: June 27, 2026 Purchase Price: $449.00 plus taxes and Home Depot Protection Plan for 4 years (additional) Incident Date: September 4, 2026
I purchased the above ECHO string trimmer new through The Home Depot’s online sales system on June 24, 2026. Home Depot records show that the product was delivered on June 27, 2026. The trimmer remained unused following delivery because I had two other trimmers available. On September 4, 2026, I placed this machine into service for the first time since purchase. The machine had not previously been operated, repaired, serviced, modified, or fitted by me with an aftermarket cutting head. Within approximately two seconds of its first start, the complete rotating cutting head unexpectedly separated from the output shaft and was projected away from the machine. The actual separation event was captured contemporaneously by my residential security-camera system. The original video evidence has been preserved. The subject trimmer, detached cutting head, associated components, purchase documentation and high-resolution post-incident photographs have also been preserved. A post-incident visual examination shows that the output shaft remains substantially intact and that the separation occurred at the cutting-head attachment interface rather than through an obvious gross fracture of the output shaft. The threaded output shaft, mating threaded insert in the cutting head, adapter components, gearbox housing, bearing area and related components have been photographed in detail. Because this machine had essentially zero prior operating service and complete separation occurred within approximately two seconds of its first use, the circumstances raise concern regarding a possible manufacturing, assembly, component, dimensional, retention, or quality-control defect associated with the factory-supplied cutting-head attachment system. Complete separation of a rotating trimmer head at operating speed creates an obvious projectile, impact and laceration hazard to the operator and nearby persons and could foreseeably result in serious bodily injury or death depending upon trajectory and circumstances. No bodily injury occurred in this particular event. This was, however, a significant near-miss involving complete projection of a rotating component. I am an engineering forensic investigator and have preserved the physical evidence substantially in its post-incident condition. I have intentionally refrained from repairing, reassembling, cleaning or further operating the machine so that the failure mechanism may be independently examined. I am reporting this incident because the extremely short service duration before complete separation raises concern that the condition may have existed when the product entered service and may potentially affect other units or components within the applicable production population. I respectfully request that CPSC evaluate this occurrence as a potential product-safety defect and, if appropriate, obtain relevant information from the manufacturer concerning production, assembly, inspection, quality assurance, complaints, warranty claims and any other reported cutting-head loosening or separation events involving this model or related assemblies. I can provide the original security-camera recording, original-resolution photographs, Home Depot purchase and delivery documentation, serial/manufacturing information, and access to the preserved machine if requested.
- Model
- ECHO SRM-2620T
- UPC
- U87112046755
- Serial number
- U87112046755
- Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Jun 27, 2026
- Where
- Covington, Louisiana: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand ECHO, made or sold by ECHO Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
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First aid Made Jun 30, 2026, sent to the company Jul 6, 2026, published by CPSC Jul 20, 2026
The product, in the report: Echo SRM-225 2-cycle gas powered string trimmer.
Echo SRM-225 2-cylcle gas powered string trimmer product spews HOT oil from exhaust which can and has burned product user including causing burn blisters on arm. Picked a date for when this last “happened” but this is not one occurrence, it is a continuing issue and has happened continually since new.
- Model
- SRM-225
- UPC
- 743184510971
- Serial number
- U78312431662
- Bought from
- The Home Depot, Florida
- Bought
- Apr 19, 2025
- Where
- Vero Beach, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 73, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Echo, made or sold by ECHO Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
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Death Made Sep 12, 2018, sent to the company Sep 24, 2018, published by CPSC Oct 9, 2018
The product, in the report: Echo GT-225 Weed Trimmer Color Orange T75614042036 model #
On April 21, 2018 my Dad was using his Echo GT-225 Weed trimmer along the fence line. Somehow the fuel line became loose and sprayed fuel on my Dad. There was also a light wind blowing. Some how the Echo sparked and caught him on fire. My Dad threw the weed trimmer, 2 light jackets and wallet over the fence which were burnt. Unfortunately my Dad didn’t make it. The coroner said he death time was minutes and advised I fill this report out to you. My Dad was 87 and was in great health. I sent this to Echo and I am waiting to hear a response back from them. This product needs checked because of a potential fire danger that can cause and did cause death to the user.
- Model
- Echo GT-225
- Serial number
- T75614042036
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Ohio
- Bought
- Dec 19, 2016
- Where
- Willard, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 87, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Parent
- As this report names them
- Brand Echo, made or sold by ECHO Inc.
-
No one hurt Made May 16, 2016, sent to the company May 24, 2016, published by CPSC Jun 15, 2016
The product, in the report: straight shaft string trimmer
while using echo string trimmer, I was sprayed and drenched with gas.
- Bought from
- home depot, Massachusetts
- Bought
- Apr 14, 2014
- Where
- HOLYOKE, Massachusetts: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 60, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand echo, made or sold by ECHO Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
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Hurt, care not known Made Aug 29, 2011, sent to the company Sep 20, 2011, published by CPSC Oct 4, 2011
The product, in the report: Power grass trimmer
On August 19, 2011 I received a new Echo SRM - 266T trimmer from Speedway Sales & Service. I was forced to buy it over the internet because your primary supplier did not want to sell this model. This forced me purchase it without trying it. On Saturday the 20th I used the new unit and discovered two major personal safety issues. The largest safety issue was the temperature of the plastic covering over the muffler after my arm touched the plastic cover. I jerked the unit back because it burned my arm. After a couple of times of this occurring I went in and got a digital thermometer and measured the temperature, it was 250 degrees in the area my arm was touching. I started an old trimmer/edger, a [REDACTED], and where your arm touches the plastic housing was only 180 degrees. When I wrote to Echo and asked what the difference was between the 265 and the 266, he did not mention a catalytic element that was in the muffler that would explain the 90 degree temperature raise. The second major issue is the direction of the head. It runs clockwise, that means that I was constantly being pelted by sand and small gravel on my pant legs and face. To minimize this constant assault of flying sand, I ran the unit at a slower speed to reduce the incessant amount of debris. That made the ability to cut Saint Augustine grass take longer and limited the effective power of the larger size engine. I am returning this unsafe unit and since I charged it on my credit card it make this process more convenient. I will watch to see if Echo solves these two major safety issues.
- Model
- SRM-266T
- Bought from
- SPEEDWAY SALES & SERVICE
- Bought
- Aug 19, 2011
- Where
- United States: Unspecified
- Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand ECHO, made or sold by ECHO Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
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No one hurt Made Aug 8, 2011, published by CPSC Sep 9, 2011
The product, in the report: Echo Weed Eater
The consumer stated that he has a gas powered weed eater that has been leaking gas. The consumer stated that the product leaks gas as soon as the product starts up. The gas tank is a white plastic and is unsure of the size of the engine of the product as far as how many liters. The consumer feels the grommet going into the fuel tank seems to be deteriorating and leaking gas as if the grommet was melting.
The consumer has yet to call the manufacturer about the product. The consumer went to the store to see if he could purchase spare parts for the product but he never mentioned the safety hazard of the product to any store associates. The product seems to show no signs of charring or burning and has not caught fire or smoke. The product has not injured the consumer nor caused damage to his home. At the time of the incident, the consumer was using the product in his yard.
- Model
- 08025799
- Bought from
- Home Depot, Maryland
- Where
- Silver Spring, Maryland: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 71, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Echo, made or sold by ECHO 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.