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CPSC recall · Reported March 2, 2022

Petzl Recalls PIRANA Descender Canyoneering Devices Due to Drowning Risk

The user's rope can get caught or wedged in the PIRANA blocking slot and stop or suspend the climber, posing a drowning risk if they are under a waterfall or pool.

Recall #
22091
Affected scope
About 3,450 (In addition, about 177 were sold in Canada)
Verify with CPSC →
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The CPSC recalled This recall involves the Petzl PIRANA descender, an aluminum adjustable friction descende… — a moderate-severity action.

Petzl Recalls PIRANA Descender Canyoneering Devices Due to Drowning Risk was recalled and listed by the CPSC in March 2, 2022. Reason: The user's rope can get caught or wedged in the PIRANA blocking slot and stop or suspend the climber, posing …. Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PIRANA descender devices and contact…. Verify recall #22091 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall — The user's rope can get caught or wedged in the PIRANA blocking slot and stop or suspend the climber, posing ….

Moderate
severity level
March 2, 2022
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #22091 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #22091) was formally reported on March 2, 2022. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. The recalling firm is not specified in the federal record. Federal records list the affected scope as About 3,450 (In addition, about 177 were sold in Canada).

The documented reason for this recall is: The user's rope can get caught or wedged in the PIRANA blocking slot and stop or suspend the climber, posing a drowning risk if they are under a waterfall or pool. 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 PIRANA descender devices and contact Petzl for a full refund, including shipping. Consumers will be provided a postage-paid label to return their … — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls — clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Medical Devices recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category — 40,409 medical devices recalls on record

-1,00001,0002,0003,0004,0005,000 20052008201120142017202020232026 1,243

Where this recall sits in the database

Severity2366872097High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 100,165 recalls in the database, 23,668 are high severity, 72,097 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger — we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

About 3,450 (In addition, about 177 were sold in Canada)

Related Recalls

6

0 from same agency

Product description

This recall involves the Petzl PIRANA descender, an aluminum adjustable friction descender device for canyoneering. The descender has three rope installation options that allow the user to select the degree of friction before initiating a descent. A friction spur allows the user to increase braking power during descent. A plastic ring keeps the connector positioned to facilitate rope installation while the device is connected to the harness. The descender comes in orange (D005AA00) and black (D005AA01) with serial numbers ranging between 19 F 0000000 000 and 22 A 9999999 999. Serial numbers are located on the frame of the product.

Reason for recall

The user's rope can get caught or wedged in the PIRANA blocking slot and stop or suspend the climber, posing a drowning risk if they are under a waterfall or pool.

Remedy — what to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PIRANA descender devices and contact Petzl for a full refund, including shipping. Consumers will be provided a postage-paid label to return their recalled descender.

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 22091
Date reported March 2, 2022
Date initiated March 2, 2022
Recalling firm Not disclosed
Affected scope About 3,450 (In addition, about 177 were sold in Canada)
Distribution Not disclosed
Official source CPSC notice →

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

What to do with this recall

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PIRANA descender devices and contact Petzl for a full refund, including ship…

  • Check the recall number (22091) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status and remedy on the official CPSC notice before acting. CPSC notice
  • Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next

This page summarizes the official CPSC record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
This recall involves the Petzl PIRANA descender, an aluminum adjustable friction descender device for canyoneering. The descender has three rope installation options that allow the user to select the degree of friction before initiating a descent. A friction spur allows the user to increase braking power during descent. A plastic ring keeps the connector positioned to facilitate rope installation while the device is connected to the harness. The descender comes in orange (D005AA00) and black (D005AA01) with serial numbers ranging between 19 F 0000000 000 and 22 A 9999999 999. Serial numbers are located on the frame of the product.. Units affected: About 3,450 (In addition, about 177 were sold in Canada).
Why was this product recalled?
The user's rope can get caught or wedged in the PIRANA blocking slot and stop or suspend the climber, posing a drowning risk if they are under a waterfall or pool.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PIRANA descender devices and contact Petzl for a full refund, including shipping. Consumers will be provided a postage-paid label to return their recalled descender.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on March 2, 2022. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 22091.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (22091) 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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Data Sources

Source: FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA federal recall databases. This recall: CPSC, reported March 2, 2022.

  • 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)

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.

Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records — no number is typed in by an editor. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.