Copyright newsweek
A voluntary recall has been issued for the M18 FUEL™ Top Handle Chainsaw, following reports of a brake safety component failing on two occasions—causing one injury so far. The manufacturer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp (Milwaukee Tool), in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has urged consumers to “immediately stop using” the defective product. Recalled Milwaukee M18 FUEL Top Handle Chainsaw Why It Matters Many of the malfunctioning chainsaws were sold at home improvement retailers, including the popular Home Depot—both in-store and online—potentially affecting thousands of consumers and professionals who have bought and are currently using this battery-powered tool. What To Know On October 30, Milwaukee Tool and the CPSC initiated a recall of 90,860 M18 FUEL Top Handle Chainsaws in the U.S. and around 7,500 in Canada, which were sold between March 2023 and September 2024. This was after Milwaukee Tool received two reports of a malfunctioning chain brake—which is a critical chainsaw safety mechanism. The CPSC’s recall announcement states that the “chainsaw’s chain brake may not activate,” potentially allowing the chain to continue moving, therefore “posing a laceration hazard.” The CPSC also confirmed that there have been two incidents relating to the faulty chainsaw, one resulting in a finger laceration injury. The product—which came with either a 12 or 14-inch bar, chain, bar cover, and blade wrench and retailed for around $350 ($790, including Milwaukee Tool M18 batteries and charger)—can be identified by the catalog numbers 2826-20C, 2826-22T, 2826-21T, 2826-20T (which can be found on the upper right part of the nameplate) and the serial number (on the upper left side of the nameplate), where the fourth digit is the letter A. Milwaukee Tool has told owners of the affected chainsaw to stop using the product immediately and arrange for a free repair via the Milwaukee Service Registration portal or by calling 833-953-2012. What People Are Saying In its official recall announcement, Milwaukee Tool stated it is “committed to continuously improving safety and productivity on the professional jobsite, Milwaukee Tool is voluntarily acting, in collaboration with the U.S. CPSC, to issue this recall and repair impacted solutions free of cost.” The CPSC emphasized in its recall notice that, “Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chainsaw and contact Milwaukee Tool for a free repair. Consumers should register their product at https://service.milwaukeetool.com/support/eservice to receive a prepaid shipping label to return their product to Milwaukee Tool for repair.” What Happens Next Milwaukee Tool has said that all related shipping costs will be covered and that repairs are expected to be completed within seven to 10 business days.
