Severity
Moderate
STIHL Recalls Chain Saws Due to Risk of Injury
Reported: February 14, 2012 Initiated: February 14, 2012 #12108 About 3,000 units
STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va. issued this CPSC recall on February 14, 2012. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 3,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The flywheel on the chain saw can crack causing parts of the flywheel to separate and strike users or bystanders, posin…. 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 #12108) was formally reported on February 14, 2012. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 3,000 units are affected.
The documented reason for this recall is: The flywheel on the chain saw can crack causing parts of the flywheel to separate and strike users or bystanders, posing a risk of injury. 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 immediately stop using the recalled chain saws and return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for the installation of a free replacement flywheel. — 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 14 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
Units Affected
About 3,000
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product Description
This recall involves STIHL MS 391 gas-powered chain saws with an orange top casing, gray base and black front handle and hand guard. "STIHL" and "MS 391" are printed in an orange circle on the starter side of the unit. The serial number is located on the crankcase to the right of the muffler when viewed from the rear of the saw. Serial numbers included in the recall are: 28535 1759 through 28535 1956 28664 5278 through 28664 6277 28665 1283 through 28665 5577 28724 4317 through 28724 4480 28735 3627 through 28735 3647
Reason for Recall
The flywheel on the chain saw can crack causing parts of the flywheel to separate and strike users or bystanders, posing a risk of injury.
Remedy
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chain saws and return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for the installation of a free replacement flywheel.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.
- Units Affected
- About 3,000
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 12108 |
| Date reported | February 14, 2012 |
| Date initiated | February 14, 2012 |
| Recalling firm | STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va. |
| 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What product was recalled? ▼
This recall involves STIHL MS 391 gas-powered chain saws with an orange top casing, gray base and black front handle and hand guard. "STIHL" and "MS 391" are printed in an orange circle on the starter side of the unit. The serial number is located on the crankcase to the right of the muffler when viewed from the rear of the saw. Serial numbers included in the recall are: 28535 1759 through 28535 1956 28664 5278 through 28664 6277 28665 1283 through 28665 5577 28724 4317 through 28724 4480 28735 3627 through 28735 3647. Recalled by STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.. Units affected: About 3,000.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
The flywheel on the chain saw can crack causing parts of the flywheel to separate and strike users or bystanders, posing a risk of injury.
What should consumers do? ▼
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chain saws and return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for the installation of a free replacement flywheel.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on February 14, 2012. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 12108.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (12108) 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.
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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.
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
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).