BLACK+DECKER Easy Garment Steamers have been recalled twice because they can expel, spray or leak hot water during use. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received reports of burn injuries, including on steamers repaired after the first recall.
No class action, MDL or other lawsuit has been filed over the steamers. In November 2022, Empower Brands recalled more than 500,000 units.
It expanded the recall on April 4, 2024, to about 1.6 million more units. If you own one, stop using it and ask Empower Brands for a refund.
- Case or litigation name: No filed case
- Defendants: None named
- Court and docket number, when available: No filed case
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: No filing yet
- Main allegations: Reports to the CPSC that the steamers expelled, sprayed or leaked hot water in use, causing burns; no lawsuit allegations exist
- Products or people involved: BLACK+DECKER Easy Garment Steamers, models HGS011, HGS011F, HGS011S and HGS011T, sold June 2021 through February 2024
Table Of Contents
Latest Black and Decker Steamer Lawsuit Updates
April 4, 2024: CPSC Announces Recall Expansion
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Empower Brands was recalling about 1.6 million more HGS011 steamers. Quartz reported the expansion covers repaired units from the November 2022 recall and offers a full refund [1].
November 3, 2022: Empower Brands Recalls Steamers
WTKR reported that Empower Brands recalled more than 500,000 BLACK+DECKER Easy Garment Steamers on November 3, 2022, after 241 reports of hot water expelled from the steamers. The company offered a free replacement upper assembly [2].
Who May Be Affected?
People who own or used a BLACK+DECKER Easy Garment Steamer may be affected. The models are HGS011, HGS011F, HGS011S and HGS011T, bought between June 2021 and February 2024.
ABC News quoted Black+Decker saying the model appears on the rating plate on the bottom of the steamer base. Units that got a replacement upper housing in the November 2022 recall are also included [3].
The recall applies regardless of date code or point of purchase. The harm tied to these steamers is burns from hot water that escapes during use. Whether you have a legal claim depends on an individual legal review.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The CPSC has received reports that the steamers expelled, sprayed or leaked hot water during use and caused burns. WTKR reported that the November 2022 recall came with 32 burn injuries, including two second-degree burns.
By April 2024, Quartz reported, the CPSC had 317 reports, and 82 involved burn injuries, 7 of them second-degree burns. Such reports record what consumers told the agency and cannot prove cause.
Of the CPSC reports, 94 involved units repaired in the 2022 recall or the updated design, including 19 burn injuries, according to ABC News.
Recall and Regulatory Background
A recall does not prove liability. The hazard is hot water that is expelled, sprayed or leaked, and the remedy is a full refund from Empower Brands.
According to Yahoo News, the UPCs are 0 50875 82840 7 for HGS011F and 0 50875 82839 1 for HGS011S [4]. HGS011 is 0 50875 82838 4, and HGS011T is 0 50875 00272 2.
Empower Brands takes refund requests at 800-990-5298, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. You can also email hgsrecall@brandprotectplus.com or visit www.prodprotect.com/recall.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items if you were burned by a recalled steamer:
- The steamer itself, kept as it is, with the model number from the rating plate on the base.
- The packaging and the UPC code printed on the box or the label.
- Your receipt or order record showing where and when you bought the steamer.
- Photographs of the steamer and of the burn injury as it heals over time.
- Medical records and bills for any treatment of the burn, including follow-up visits.
- Emails, call notes and refund or replacement letters from Empower Brands.
- Names and contact details of any person who saw the burn happen or helped you.
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines come from state law, so the time limit that applies to you depends on where you live and when the injury happened.
A missed deadline can end a claim, even if your facts are strong. Talk to a lawyer promptly about your deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Black and Decker Steamers Were Recalled in Total?
Quartz put the total number of Black and Decker steamers recalled across both recalls at two million, made up of more than 500,000 in November 2022 and about 1.6 million in April 2024.
What Does the Research Say About Black and Decker Steamer Burns?
The research on Black and Decker steamer burns comes from CPSC incident reports gathered at the time of each recall. Those reports record burn injuries and hot water leaks, but no court has reviewed them or made findings.
Is There a Black and Decker Steamer Lawsuit?
A Black and Decker steamer lawsuit has not reached a court. What exists is two Empower Brands recalls, and the company handles refund requests at www.prodprotect.com/recall instead of through a court.
Is There a Black and Decker Steamer Recall?
Yes, there is a Black and Decker steamer recall. Empower Brands recalled the BLACK+DECKER Easy Garment Steamers, which retailed for $14 to $23 at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmart and other stores, according to ABC News.
References
- https://qz.com/black-decker-steamers-recall-burn-hazard-refund-1851390466
- https://www.wtkr.com/news/black-decker-garment-steamers-recalled-for-causing-burn-injuries
- https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/blackdecker-garment-steamers-recalled-due-potential-burn-hazard/story?id=108883686
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/1-6-million-black-decker-112957393.html