PlainRecalls

Backpack Blowers Recalled by Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA

Reported: April 24, 2001 Initiated: April 24, 2001 #01128a About 3,000 units

Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif. issued this CPSC recall on April 24, 2001. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 3,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The engine exhaust can emit flames, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #01128a) was formally reported on April 24, 2001. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 3,000 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The engine exhaust can emit flames, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately, and call their local ASTRON or TMC dealer for a free repair. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 25 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 3,000

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

The recalled backpack blowers were manufactured under two different model names; though, each uses a TEX54D Kawasaki engine: -The ASTRON KB-541, which was distributed by Star Garden Supply, model has a red fan case, with a white fuel tank and black frame. The words, "Astron Backpack Blower" and the model number are on a label on the gas tank and on a cap right above the tank. -The TMC KTBL-5600XA, which was distributed by TMC Power Equipment, has a white fan case and fuel tank, with a black frame. The model name, "TMC," and the model number are on a label on the fuel tank, and the name "Kawasaki" is on a cap right above the tank. The blower serial numbers can be found on the blower base of the ASTRON products, and on the fan case of TMC products. The engine serial numbers can be found at the bottom of the recoil starter: Product Model Blower Serial No. Ranges Engine Serial No. Ranges ASTRON KB-541 0950001 through 0950700 0X50001 through 0X50700 0Y50001 through 0Y50700 TEX54D-AE80 159675 through 160384 TEX54D-AE80 160901 through 161600 TEX54D-AE80 162056 through 162755 TMC KTBL-5600XA 56010001 through 56011050 TEX54D-AF70 161701 through 16205 TEX54D-BF70 172943 through 173642

Reason for Recall

The engine exhaust can emit flames, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Remedy

Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately, and call their local ASTRON or TMC dealer for a free repair.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 01128a
Date reported April 24, 2001
Date initiated April 24, 2001
Recalling firm Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif.
Units affected About 3,000
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 3,000 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
The recalled backpack blowers were manufactured under two different model names; though, each uses a TEX54D Kawasaki engine: -The ASTRON KB-541, which was distributed by Star Garden Supply, model has a red fan case, with a white fuel tank and black frame. The words, "Astron Backpack Blower" and the model number are on a label on the gas tank and on a cap right above the tank. -The TMC KTBL-5600XA, which was distributed by TMC Power Equipment, has a white fan case and fuel tank, with a black frame. The model name, "TMC," and the model number are on a label on the fuel tank, and the name "Kawasaki" is on a cap right above the tank. The blower serial numbers can be found on the blower base of the ASTRON products, and on the fan case of TMC products. The engine serial numbers can be found at the bottom of the recoil starter: Product Model Blower Serial No. Ranges Engine Serial No. Ranges ASTRON KB-541 0950001 through 0950700 0X50001 through 0X50700 0Y50001 through 0Y50700 TEX54D-AE80 159675 through 160384 TEX54D-AE80 160901 through 161600 TEX54D-AE80 162056 through 162755 TMC KTBL-5600XA 56010001 through 56011050 TEX54D-AF70 161701 through 16205 TEX54D-BF70 172943 through 173642. Recalled by Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif.. Units affected: About 3,000.
Why was this product recalled?
The engine exhaust can emit flames, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately, and call their local ASTRON or TMC dealer for a free repair.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on April 24, 2001. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 01128a.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (01128a) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).