Table of contents
- Latest Awnings Recall Updates
- April 1, 2025: Court Enters SunSetter Consent Decree
- April 6, 2023: Justice Department Files Complaint Against SunSetter
- December 15, 2022: CPSC Recalls SIMU DMI6 Hz Awning Motors
- August 13, 2019: CPSC Announces SunSetter Cover Recall
- November 19, 2010: CPSC Announces Somfy Sunea Motor Recall
- Which Awnings Are Affected?
- Why Were Awnings Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Awnings Recall Lawsuit About the SunSetter Cover Recall?
- When Can I Call SunSetter About the Awning Cover Safety Clips?
- What Should I Do with a Recalled Somfy or SIMU Awning Motor?
- Does the SunSetter Cover Recall Include Manual Awnings?
SunSetter vinyl covers for motorized awnings were recalled on August 13, 2019, in a CPSC Recall Alert. When the cover is removed, a powered awning can open with force and cause a fall, death or serious injury.
SunSetter recalled about 270,000 covers sold in the United States and about 11,000 in Canada. It received 14 reports of incidents, including one death and six injuries. A 2025 consent decree set a $9.25 million civil penalty for late reporting.
Owners should not remove installed covers until SunSetter sends instructions. The fix is free breakaway safety clips. As of October 2026, no private injury lawsuit, class action or MDL names SunSetter.
Latest Awnings Recall Updates
April 1, 2025: Court Enters SunSetter Consent Decree
A federal court in Massachusetts entered a consent decree on April 1, 2025. It requires SunSetter Products LP to pay $9.25 million in civil penalties and to keep a compliance program [1].
The Justice Department announced the order. The penalty ends the government’s civil case over late reporting of the cover defect.
April 6, 2023: Justice Department Files Complaint Against SunSetter
The Justice Department filed a civil complaint alleging SunSetter failed to timely report the awning cover defect to CPSC. CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka commented on the action [2].
The Justice Department complaint concerned approximately 270,000 protective covers. It alleged that multiple consumers were injured and one was killed.
December 15, 2022: CPSC Recalls SIMU DMI6 Hz Awning Motors
CPSC announced the SIMU DMI6 Hz recall of motors sold with awnings and shutters. About 13,800 units were involved in this separate matter from the SunSetter cover recall [3].
The power cable can disconnect in manual override, creating shock and electrocution hazards. SIMU authorized dealers sold the motors from March 2018 through June 2022.
August 13, 2019: CPSC Announces SunSetter Cover Recall
CPSC announced a recall of vinyl covers for SunSetter motorized awnings as CPSC Recall Alert 19-767, with a repair remedy [4].
In the U.S., about 270,000 units are covered, and about 11,000 more in Canada. The hazard is an awning that opens with force when the cover is removed from its bungee tie-downs.
November 19, 2010: CPSC Announces Somfy Sunea Motor Recall
CPSC announced a recall of about 4,600 Sunea CMO RTS motors made by Somfy Systems Inc. This was a separate matter from the SunSetter covers [5].
The cable can be severed during manual operation, creating a shock hazard. Awning dealers sold the motors nationwide from December 2009 through September 2010.
Which Awnings Are Affected?
The recall involves all soft vinyl covers that came with bungee tie-downs. The covers were used with these SunSetter awnings:
- SunSetter Motorized Retractable Awnings with a vinyl cover
- SunSetter Motorized XL Retractable Awnings with a vinyl cover
- SunSetter Motorized PRO Retractable Awnings with a vinyl cover
- SunSetter Motorized PROXL Retractable Awnings with a vinyl cover
- Oasis Freestanding Motorized Retractable Awnings with a vinyl cover
No model or lot numbers apply, so match the cover to the awning it was used with. SunSetter sold the covers directly, through independent dealers nationwide and at Costco Wholesale. Sales ran from June 1999 to January 2019.
The price was about $100, or the cover was a promotional item or came in a package with a motorized awning.
Why Were Awnings Recalled?
The awnings were recalled because a powered awning can open unexpectedly with enough force to strike a person in its path. This can happen when a cover secured with bungee tie-downs is removed.
The fix targets the tie-downs. SunSetter’s free breakaway safety clips replace the bungee tie-downs, and the company sends instructions with them.
The Justice Department later alleged that SunSetter did not report the defect to CPSC until 2017. SunSetter recalled the covers in August 2019. The consent decree resolved those allegations, and they are not findings.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
According to CPSC, the company received 14 reports of incidents. These include one report of a death and six reports of injuries.
In the reported death, a 73-year-old man fell from a ladder and over a balcony. A motorized awning opened unexpectedly and struck him while he was removing the bungee tie-downs from the cover.
The reports went to the company that made the covers. Reports are not proof that the covers caused every incident.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you own a SunSetter motorized awning with a vinyl cover, take these steps:
- Do not install covers for motorized awnings or remove installed covers until you have received instructions from SunSetter.
- Contact SunSetter toll-free at 844-313-0144, or go to www.sunsetter.com/safety-clips, to request the free breakaway safety clips.
- Follow SunSetter’s instructions to remove the bungee tie-downs safely and fit the clips in their place.
- Expect a call or letter, because SunSetter is contacting all known purchasers directly.
- Report problems with the recall remedy to CPSC through its Recall Complaint form on cpsc.gov.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
Two other awning motor recalls are separate from the SunSetter covers, and neither involves vinyl covers. CPSC Recall 11-043 covers Somfy Sunea CMO RTS motors, models 525A2, 535A2 and 550R2. No incidents were reported.
CPSC Recall 23-073 covers SIMU DMI6 Hz motors. No incidents were reported. The recall also reached about 12 in Canada, and SIMU offers a replacement motor.
Legal Options
The only legal action tied to the covers is the government case described above. The covers are not the subject of a private injury suit, class action or MDL. A recall does not automatically establish liability.
Deadlines for an injury claim depend on state law, where you live and when the injury happened. Missing one can end a claim. If a recalled cover hurt you, ask a lawyer promptly whether a claim is open to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Awnings Recall Lawsuit About the SunSetter Cover Recall?
The awnings recall lawsuit is about the SunSetter cover recall, but it is a government civil-penalty case over late reporting. The complaint said SunSetter knew of consumer complaints as early as 2012 and of its own 2015 simulation testing that confirmed the hazard.
When Can I Call SunSetter About the Awning Cover Safety Clips?
SunSetter’s toll-free line for the awning cover safety clips is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. You can also email safety-clips@sunsetter.com or visit www.sunsetter.com/safety-clips to ask for the free clips.
What Should I Do with a Recalled Somfy or SIMU Awning Motor?
To handle a recalled Somfy or SIMU awning motor, contact the maker. Somfy offers free installation of a replacement motor at (800) 637-6639, and SIMU offers a free inspection and replacement at 855-944-5598.
Does the SunSetter Cover Recall Include Manual Awnings?
The SunSetter cover recall does not include manual awnings. CPSC says covers for manually operated awnings are not affected. Owners of motorized awnings can still request the free breakaway safety clips, and SunSetter is contacting all known purchasers directly.