Recall: SunSetter Recalls Vinyl Covers for Motorized Awnings Due to Impact and Fall Hazards; One Death Reported (Recall Alert)

Description: This recall involves all soft vinyl awning covers used with SunSetter® Motorized, Motorized XL, Motorized PRO, Motorized PROXL, and Oasis Freestanding Motorized Retractable Awnings distributed by SunSetter from June 1999 to January 2019 and supplied with bungee tie-downs. Covers for manually operated awnings are not affected by this recall.

Name of product: Vinyl covers for SunSetter Motorized Awnings

Units: About 270,000 units (In addition, approximately 11,000 units were distributed in Canada)

Manufacturer: SunSetter Products LP, of Malden, Mass.

Hazard: If a powered awning is activated while the cover is secured with bungee tie-downs, when the cover is removed, the awning can open unexpectedly with enough force to strike a consumer standing in the awning's path, causing them to fall and suffer death or serious injury.

Remedy: Consumers should not attempt to install covers for the motorized awnings or remove any installed covers until they have received instructions from SunSetter. Consumers should contact SunSetter for free breakaway safety clips (that replace the bungee tie-downs provided with the cover) and instructions for their use, and instructions on how to safely remove any installed bungee tie-downs (available at https://www.sunsetter.com/safety). SunSetter is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Recall date: August 13, 2019

Incidents/Injuries: The Firm has received 14 reports of incidents, including one report of a death and six reports of injuries. In one reported incident, a 73-year-old man died after falling from a ladder and over a balcony when a motorized awning opened unexpectedly and struck him while he was removing the cover's bungee tie-downs.

Sold At: The recalled covers were sold for about $100 or distributed as a promotional item or as part of a package with motorized awnings directly by SunSetter, through independent dealers nationwide, and through Costco Wholesale, between June 1999 and January 2019.

Manufactured in: United States

Consumer contact: SunSetter toll-free at 844-313-0144 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET daily, online at www.sunsetter.com/safety-clips, or by email at safety-clips@sunsetter.com

Recall number: 19-767