Table of contents
- Latest Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall Updates
- January 12, 2021: Kidde Agrees to a $12 Million Civil Penalty
- November 2, 2017: CPSC Announces the Kidde Recall
- Which Kidde Fire Extinguishers Are Affected?
- Why Were Kidde Fire Extinguishers Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Kidde Fire Extinguishers Still Being Recalled?
- Where Is the Manufacturing Date on a Kidde Fire Extinguisher?
- Where Were the Recalled Kidde Fire Extinguishers Sold?
- Does the Kidde Recall Cover Extinguishers in RVs and Boats?
- Do I Need a Receipt for a Free Kidde Replacement?
- Are There Recalls on Kidde Smoke and CO Alarms?
Kidde plastic handle and push-button Pindicator fire extinguishers can clog or need excessive force to discharge. They can fail to activate in a fire, and the nozzle can detach with force.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on November 2, 2017. It covers about 37.8 million extinguishers in the United States. Check the model number and date code, then call Kidde at 855-271-0773.
The recall is ongoing, and Kidde still offers a free replacement. Kidde also agreed to a $12 million civil penalty in 2021 for allegedly failing to report problems to the agency.
Latest Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall Updates
January 12, 2021: Kidde Agrees to a $12 Million Civil Penalty
Consumer Reports reported that Kidde agreed to pay a $12 million fine. It settled a complaint filed in late December 2020 by the Justice Department with help from the CPSC [1].
The complaint said Kidde failed to tell the agency about extinguisher problems in time. WMAR reported that a federal judge in North Carolina ordered Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc. to pay the penalty [2].
November 2, 2017: CPSC Announces the Kidde Recall
CPSC announced the recall with Kidde on November 2, 2017, jointly with Health Canada. It covers about 37.8 million Kidde fire extinguishers in the United States and 2.7 million in Canada [3].
The recall also covers models Kidde recalled in March 2009 and February 2015. Owners of those models should replace them too.
Which Kidde Fire Extinguishers Are Affected?
Two groups of Kidde fire extinguishers are recalled, and the model number is printed on the extinguisher label:
- Plastic handle fire extinguishers: 134 models made January 1, 1973 to August 15, 2017.
- Push-button Pindicator fire extinguishers: eight models (KK2, 100D, 210D, M5P, M5PM, AUTO 5FX, AUTO 5FX-1, FF 210D-1) made August 11, 1995 to September 22, 2017.
The Kidde recall ID guide lists extinguishers with a metal handle and metal pull pin, or a plastic handle with a horizontal plastic pull pin and curved black handle, as not affected [4].
Why Were Kidde Fire Extinguishers Recalled?
Kidde fire extinguishers were recalled because they can become clogged or require excessive force to discharge. As a result, they can fail to activate during a fire emergency.
The nozzle can also detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard. The Kidde recall ID guide describes the same risk of failure to discharge.
Consumer Reports said the plastic handles and buttons can break or detach when force is applied. It also said this was the third Kidde recall of this type of extinguisher and by far the largest [5].
CBS News reported that Kidde would replace the defective extinguishers for free with new ones made with metal parts [6].
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
The CPSC notice of November 2, 2017 cites about 391 reports of incidents. They include about 16 injuries. Injuries included smoke inhalation and minor burns. There were also about 91 property damage reports.
One death in 2014 is reported. A person died after a car crash and fire in Pennsylvania. Emergency responders could not get the recalled Kidde extinguishers to work. CBS News reported that his family received a settlement from Kidde.
Consumers Union policy analyst William Wallace said the recall “raises very serious questions about how millions of defective products ended up in the marketplace.”
Reports to CPSC do not prove that an extinguisher caused every incident, and each case depends on its own facts, records and circumstances.
What Should Consumers Do?
Follow these steps if you own a Kidde fire extinguisher:
- Check the model number on the label and the date code on the cylinder against the CPSC list.
- If your unit is recalled, contact Kidde to request a free replacement and the return instructions.
- Keep your current extinguisher until the new one arrives.
- Call Kidde at 855-271-0773, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday. You can also visit www.kidde.com and open “Product Safety Recall.” In Canada, call 1-855-233-2882.
- Report a dangerous product or an injury to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov or 800-638-2772.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
Kidde has also recalled smoke alarms. On March 21, 2018, Kidde recalled dual-sensor smoke alarms, models PI2010 and PI9010, under recall number 18-128. About 452,000 were sold in the United States and about 40,000 in Canada [7].
On May 6, 2021, Kidde recalled about 226,000 TruSense smoke and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, series 2040, 2050, 2060 and 2070. WTOP reported no incidents or injuries [8].
Legal Options
CPSC alleged that Kidde under-reported problems before the 2015 recall. It also alleged that Kidde misused a registered safety mark.
Kidde agreed to a consent decree that allows liquidated damages for a similar offense in the future. The penalty settled those claims. It is not a finding of fault.
A recall does not automatically show liability. Individual claims depend on the facts and the state, and a lawyer can review them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kidde Fire Extinguishers Still Being Recalled?
Yes, the Kidde fire extinguisher recall still applies. Its Fire Extinguisher Recall ID Guide remains on kidde.com. As of October 2026, no later CPSC action on these extinguishers has been announced.
Where Is the Manufacturing Date on a Kidde Fire Extinguisher?
The manufacturing date on a Kidde fire extinguisher is a code on the side of the cylinder near the bottom. Digits five through nine of the code give the day and year in DDDYY format. Units made before 2007 carry no date code.
Where Were the Recalled Kidde Fire Extinguishers Sold?
The recalled Kidde fire extinguishers were sold at Menards, Montgomery Ward, Sears, The Home Depot, Walmart and other stores, and online at Amazon.com and ShopKidde.com. Prices ran from $12 to $50, and about $200 for model XL 5MR.
Does the Kidde Recall Cover Extinguishers in RVs and Boats?
The Kidde recall covers extinguishers that were also sold with commercial trucks, recreational vehicles, personal watercraft and boats. Recall information for extinguishers in RVs and motor vehicles is at www.NHTSA.gov.
Do I Need a Receipt for a Free Kidde Replacement?
You do not need a receipt for a free Kidde replacement, according to Consumer Reports. Kidde says the replacement ships within 10 to 15 days after you request it by phone or on its recall page.
Are There Recalls on Kidde Smoke and CO Alarms?
Yes, Kidde has recalled smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Owners of models PI2010 and PI9010 can call Kidde at 833-551-7739, and owners of TruSense series 2040 through 2070 can call 844-796-9972.