Rayovac and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is issuing an expansion of last year’s voluntary recall of Rayovac NI-CD and Rayovac NI-MH Cordless Tool Battery Packs. About 111,800 batteries were recalled in December 2011 and now the company is adding 65,300 more to the list. This are not OEM battery packs but rather replacement packs which worked with a variety of tools. As it turns out, the replacement battery pack can explode unexpectedly, posing a risk of injury to consumers.
This recall involves all RAYOVAC-branded replacement battery packs used with cordless power tools and have part numbers beginning with “CTL.” “RAYOVAC,” “NI-CD” or “RAYOVAC,” “NI-MH” and a part number beginning with “CTL” are printed in white lettering on the product. The battery packs were sold in voltages ranging between 2.4 and 18 volts in various sizes and shapes. They were sold as replacement batteries to the following brand tools: Black and Decker, Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Lincoln, Milwaukee, Panasonic, Ryobi and Skil. Rayovac is recommending that consumers stop using the recalled batteries immediately.
Cordless Tool Battery Packs Recall
BatteriesPlus has received three additional reports since the previous recall of exploding batteries, including one report of an injury to a consumer’s finger. The battery packs were sold exclusively at BatteriesPlus retail stores nationwide and online at batteriesplus.com between June 2008 and July 2012 for between $60 and $70 each.
Consumers are being directed to immediately stop using the battery packs and remove them from cordless tools (do not recharge them). Consumers can contact BatteriesPlus for instructions on how to return the product for a store credit. The company does not appear to be issuing replacement batteries.
For more information, contact BatteriesPlus toll-free at (877) 856-3232 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.batteriesplus.com and click on Recall Notices/Bulletins at the bottom of the page.
