Bissell, a company that produces floor cleaning products, has issued a recall for over 150,000 of its Multi Reach Hand and Floor Vacuum Cleaners due to a possible fire risk. The recall was announced by the United States Product Safety Commission and on the company’s website. The USPSC mentioned that the vacuum’s battery pack could overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard. Around 142,000 units were recalled in the United States, with an additional 14,600 units sold in Canada.
According to the announcement, Bissell received 17 reports of the recalled vacuum cleaners emitting smoke and a burning odor. Among these reports, six indicated that the battery pack caught fire, three of which led to minor property damage and two resulted in minor burn injuries.
A Bissell spokesperson emphasized that consumer safety is their top priority and that they are collaborating fully with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to voluntarily recall the Multi Reach™ Hand and Floor Vacuum Cleaners. Consumers are urged to cease using the vacuum immediately and to visit www.BISSELL.com/recall for more information on impacted models and instructions to receive a free replacement.
The affected products were sold in stores at major retailers such as Lowe’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, as well as online at www.bissell.com, www.amazon.com, and www.hsn.com. Consumers are advised to stop using the vacuums and contact the company for guidance on depleting the battery charge and obtaining a free replacement vacuum. Additionally, consumers are instructed to dispose of the batteries in accordance with local and state laws, as the recalled lithium batteries are potentially hazardous and require special handling.
The specific model numbers impacted by the recall include 1985, 19851 (also known as Multi Auto), 19859, 1985T, 2151, 21512, 21513, 21517, 21518, 21519, 2151A, 2151T, 2151W, and 2151V. Consumers can locate their model number on the product rating label behind the dirt tank.
