PlainRecalls

CPSC, Black & Decker Announce Recall of Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers

Reported: September 19, 2002 Initiated: September 19, 2002 #02254 About 140,000 units

Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md. issued this CPSC recall on September 19, 2002. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 140,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: An electrical component in the lawn mower can overheat, posing a possible fire hazard.. 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 #02254) was formally reported on September 19, 2002. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 140,000 units are affected, a scale large enough to require multi-state distribution tracking.

The documented reason for this recall is: An electrical component in the lawn mower can overheat, posing a possible fire hazard. 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 with either brand recalled lawn mower should stop using it immediately. Black & Decker mower owners should call Black & Decker to receive information on the free repair. Craftsman mower own… — 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 6 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 24 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 140,000

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

The mowers were sold under both the Black & Decker and Craftsman brand names. The recalled Black & Decker cordless electric lawn mowers have the model number CMM1000 or CMM1000R and date codes from 9534 through 200230, both of which are located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. The lawn mowers have either an orange or green deck cover with a black motor cover. The lawn mowers have the words "Black & Decker" and "Cordless" on top of the motor cover. The Craftsman-brand mowers, which were sold at Sears, have model number 900.370520 and include all date codes. The model number is located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. The Sears lawn mowers have a dark green deck with a black motor cover. The lawn mowers have the words "Craftsman" and "24 Volt Cordless" on top of the motor cover.

Reason for Recall

An electrical component in the lawn mower can overheat, posing a possible fire hazard.

Remedy

Consumers with either brand recalled lawn mower should stop using it immediately. Black & Decker mower owners should call Black & Decker to receive information on the free repair. Craftsman mower owners should take their mower to the nearest Sears store or Sears product repair center 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 02254
Date reported September 19, 2002
Date initiated September 19, 2002
Recalling firm Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md.
Units affected About 140,000
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 140,000 units affected — multi-state distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units) ✓ This recall
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 mowers were sold under both the Black & Decker and Craftsman brand names. The recalled Black & Decker cordless electric lawn mowers have the model number CMM1000 or CMM1000R and date codes from 9534 through 200230, both of which are located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. The lawn mowers have either an orange or green deck cover with a black motor cover. The lawn mowers have the words "Black & Decker" and "Cordless" on top of the motor cover. The Craftsman-brand mowers, which were sold at Sears, have model number 900.370520 and include all date codes. The model number is located on the silver and black label affixed to the rear door of the mower. The Sears lawn mowers have a dark green deck with a black motor cover. The lawn mowers have the words "Craftsman" and "24 Volt Cordless" on top of the motor cover.. Recalled by Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md.. Units affected: About 140,000.
Why was this product recalled?
An electrical component in the lawn mower can overheat, posing a possible fire hazard.
What should consumers do?
Consumers with either brand recalled lawn mower should stop using it immediately. Black & Decker mower owners should call Black & Decker to receive information on the free repair. Craftsman mower owners should take their mower to the nearest Sears store or Sears product repair center for a free repair.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on September 19, 2002. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 02254.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (02254) 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.

Compare this recall with Electrolux Group Recalls Frigidaire Gas Ranges Due to Burn … →

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).