Recall: 18-Volt Battery Packs Recalled by DeWalt ®

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2000 Release # 00-073

Dewalt Recall Line: (877) 457-0478 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 Dewalt® POC: Joan Mellott, (410) 716-7969

CPSC, DEWALT® Industrial Tool Co. Announce Recall of 18-Volt Battery Packs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DEWALT® Industrial Tool Co., of Baltimore, Md., is recalling for repair about 755,000 DEWALT® 18-volt battery packs (model DW9095) for use with various battery-operated tools. The battery packs' clips can come loose, causing the battery packs to fall. When working with these tools, falling battery packs weighing about 2.2 pounds can cause injury.

DEWALT® has received 53 reports of battery packs falling from tools. There have been five reports of injuries, including a battery pack striking a consumer on the head.

The recalled DEWALT® 18-volt battery packs are model number DW9095. This model number is located on the name plate on the bottom of the battery. These battery packs have date codes from 9719 to 9810 located on the top of the battery pack. The battery packs are black with "DEWALT," and "18V" in yellow on the sides of the packs.

Major home centers and hardware stores, as well as industrial distributors, sold battery packs nationwide from May 1997 through June 1998 for between $70 and $85.

Consumers should immediately stop using the battery packs, and call DEWALT® for a free repair kit toll-free at (877) 457-0478 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or go to the company's web site at http://www.dewalt.com.

Battery packs with an "R" etched after the date code or with a red dot on the name plate already have been repaired and are not included in this recall.