Northern Tool + Equipment recalled the NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer, Item #157310, and two other NorthStar models after a fan-wheel fire hazard. The recall, announced January 29, 2026, remains open.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Northern Tool + Equipment carried out the recall together. It covers about 1,416 units, sold at Northern Tool stores and online from January through August 2025 for $5,000 to $10,000.
No fires or injuries have been reported. Owners of an affected pressure washer should stop using it immediately and contact Northern Tool + Equipment to schedule a free repair right away.
- Action type: Voluntary recall under CPSC’s Fast-Track Recall process
- Announcement and initiation dates: Announced and initiated January 29, 2026
- Company and responsible agency: Northern Tool + Equipment and the CPSC
- Recall or campaign number: 26-224
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: Item #157310, serial code 0125-0825, burner date code 0125-2625 (weeks 1-26, 2025); labels on engine and under the battery box. Also Item #157594, #157595.
- Number of affected units: About 1,416 units total (all three models)
- Sold at and sale period: Northern Tool + Equipment stores, NorthernTool.com, Amazon.com, Ebay.com, and GNEDI.com, January-August 2025, $5,000-$10,000
- Hazard: A fan wheel can fail, causing abnormal burner operation that can produce smoke or bursts of flames – a fire hazard
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: None reported
- Remedy: Free repair by an authorized technician, scheduled online
Table Of Contents
- Latest NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer Recall Updates
- Which NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer Units Are Affected?
- Why Was NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Legal Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Still Sell or Use a Recalled NorthStar Pressure Washer?
- Who Manufactures the Recalled NorthStar Pressure Washer?
- Is There a Lawsuit Against Northern Tool over the Pressure Washer Recall?
- What Engine Powers the Recalled NorthStar Pressure Washer?
- What Is the CPSC Hotline Number for Reporting a Problem?
- What Other NorthStar Pressure Washer Models Were Included in This Recall?
- References
Latest NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer Recall Updates
January 29, 2026: CPSC Announces NorthStar Pressure Washer Recall
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Recall No. 26-224 on January 29, 2026 [1]. Northern Tool + Equipment ran the voluntary Fast-Track recall with the CPSC.
It covers about 1,416 NorthStar pressure washers, including Item #157310, over a fan-wheel fire hazard. Northern Tool + Equipment is offering every affected owner a free repair. The recall remains open, with no new reports since the announcement.
Which NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer Units Are Affected?
The recalled Item #157310, a NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer, is one of three models under CPSC Recall No. 26-224, per Northern Tool’s recall page [2]. Check these identifiers:
- Item #157310 (this page’s model) – serial MONTHYEAR code between 0125 and 0825 (January-August 2025), on a label on the engine.
- Burner date code (Item #157310) – WEEKYEAR code between 0125 and 2625 (weeks 1-26 of 2025), on a label under the battery box.
- Item #157594 and Item #157595 – two co-recalled NorthStar models with the same date codes. Each has its own Schmidt & Clark recall page with its own label details.
Why Was NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer Recalled?
NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer was recalled because a fan wheel inside the unit can fail.
A failed fan wheel can cause abnormal burner operation, producing smoke or sudden bursts of flame while the pressure washer runs. The CPSC and Northern Tool + Equipment identified this as a fire hazard.
The defect affects units manufactured between January and August 2025, identified through the serial number’s MONTHYEAR code and the burner’s WEEKYEAR date code. No fires or burn injuries had been reported as of the recall announcement.
This recall moved through CPSC’s Fast-Track Recall process, in which Northern Tool + Equipment committed to work with CPSC to announce the recall and offer the remedy quickly.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
Northern Tool + Equipment and the CPSC have received no reports of a fire, burn, or other injury connected to the recalled pressure washers. CPSC’s recall listing shows none reported as of January 29, 2026. Northern Tool’s page agrees.
A recall does not mean every affected unit has failed. It means CPSC and Northern Tool + Equipment found a fan-wheel defect that can raise the risk of smoke or flames during use.
Owners should still stop using an affected pressure washer right away and request the free repair. The absence of reported incidents does not guarantee that any specific unit is free of the defect.
What Should Consumers Do?
Owners of an affected NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer should take the following steps to stay safe:
- Stop using the recalled pressure washer immediately, and do not resume use again until an authorized technician has completed the repair.
- Check the item number and the serial number’s MONTHYEAR code against the recalled range of 0125 through 0825 (January through August 2025).
- Check the burner date code, 0125 through 2625, on this model’s label under the battery box (weeks 1 to 26 of 2025).
- Call Northern Tool + Equipment at 888-518-0342, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, or email inquiry@northerntool.com.
- Schedule the free repair online at northerntool.com/recall-details-pw with an authorized Northern Tool + Equipment service center or third-party servicer near you.
- Notify the CPSC of any fire, burn, or other problem with this pressure washer at SaferProducts.gov, or by phone through the CPSC Hotline [3].
Legal Options
Schmidt & Clark reviews claims for people hurt or who suffered property loss from a fire or burner problem with a recalled NorthStar pressure washer.
A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. A closer look at the facts can show whether a claim may move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Still Sell or Use a Recalled NorthStar Pressure Washer?
No, you cannot legally sell a recalled NorthStar pressure washer. Federal law prohibits selling any product subject to a CPSC-ordered or voluntary recall, including this one. Stop using an affected unit and request the free repair before selling, gifting, or using it again.
Who Manufactures the Recalled NorthStar Pressure Washer?
Northern Tool + Equipment Manufacturing, based in Faribault, Minnesota, manufactures the recalled NorthStar pressure washers in the United States. Northern Tool + Equipment then sells them nationwide under the NorthStar brand through its retail stores.
Is There a Lawsuit Against Northern Tool over the Pressure Washer Recall?
No, no lawsuit, class action, or multidistrict litigation has been filed against Northern Tool + Equipment over this recall. This reflects the CPSC notice’s silence on litigation and a search of public records as of September 2026. A free case review is still open to anyone hurt or with property damage.
What Engine Powers the Recalled NorthStar Pressure Washer?
The recalled NorthStar Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer runs on a Honda engine rated at 3,000 PSI and 4 GPM, with an electric start. The two other recalled models use a higher-rated Honda engine, up to 4,000 PSI.
What Is the CPSC Hotline Number for Reporting a Problem?
The CPSC Hotline number is 800-638-2772, or 800-638-8270 for TTY users. Consumers can call to report a fire, burn, or other incident involving this recalled pressure washer or any other recalled product. SaferProducts.gov offers the same reporting option online.
What Other NorthStar Pressure Washer Models Were Included in This Recall?
Two other NorthStar pressure washer models were included in this recall. One is the Gas Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washer Skid, Item #157594 (4,000 PSI, 4.0 GPM). The other is the Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washer, Item #157595 (4,000 PSI, 4 GPM, 200-gallon tank).
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Northern-Tool-Equipment-Recalls-Hot-Water-Pressure-Washers-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
- https://www.northerntool.com/recall-details-pw
- https://www.saferproducts.gov