The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Northern Tool + Equipment announced a voluntary recall on January 29, 2026. It covers NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers, Item #157595, under Recall No. 26-224.
Recall No. 26-224 also covers two related NorthStar hot water pressure washer models, for about 1,416 units combined. The fan wheel inside these pressure washers can fail, causing abnormal burner operation that produces smoke or bursts of flames during use.
That is a fire hazard. The recall remains open, and the CPSC notice reports no incidents or injuries. Anyone with an affected unit should stop using it and contact Northern Tool + Equipment for a free repair.
- Action type: Voluntary recall (CPSC Recall No. 26-224)
- Announcement and initiation dates: January 29, 2026 (announced and initiated)
- Company and responsible agency: Northern Tool + Equipment Manufacturing / U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Recall or campaign number: 26-224
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: Item #157595, serial code 0125-0825, burner date code 0125-2625; sibling item numbers #157310 and #157594
- Number of affected units: About 1,416 units across all three recalled models combined
- 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: Fan wheel failure can cause abnormal burner operation with smoke or flames – a fire hazard
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: None reported
- Remedy: Free repair by an authorized technician; stop use and contact Northern Tool + Equipment to schedule
Table Of Contents
- Latest NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers Recall Updates
- Which NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers Are Affected?
- Why Were NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Legal Options
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which NorthStar Pressure Washer Models Are Covered by Recall No. 26-224?
- Who Manufactures NorthStar Pressure Washers?
- What Happens After I Report an Incident to CPSC?
- Is the NorthStar Pressure Washer Recall Still Active?
- What Does an Attorney Review of a NorthStar Pressure Washer Incident Look At?
- Where Are the Burner Date Code Labels on the Other Two Recalled NorthStar Models?
- References
Latest NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers Recall Updates
January 29, 2026: CPSC Announces Recall No. 26-224
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall for about 1,416 NorthStar hot water pressure washers, including the Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washer this page covers[1].
Northern Tool + Equipment is offering a free repair, and the notice reports no incidents or injuries. The fan wheel defect can cause smoke or flames during operation.
Which NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers Are Affected?
The recall covers the NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washer, Item #157595, one of three NorthStar models named in this recall, identified by the following markings:
- Item #157595, with the item number and serial number printed on a label on the engine
- A serial number code between 0125 and 0825, for units made from January 2025 through August 2025
- A burner date code between 0125 and 2625, covering weeks 01 through 26 of 2025, printed on a label under the NorthStar logo
- Two related item numbers, #157310 and #157594, covered by the same recall notice for other NorthStar hot water pressure washer models
Owners should check both labels before assuming a unit falls outside the recall. Only pressure washers within both code ranges are included. Units built outside these windows are not part of this recall.
Why Were NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers Recalled?
NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers were recalled because the fan wheel can fail. That failure can let the burner run abnormally and produce smoke or bursts of flames.
The CPSC notice states the fan wheel failure caused that abnormal burner operation and prompted the recall, though it does not describe what triggers the fan wheel to fail in the first place.
The hazard is the fire risk itself, separate from any injury a fire might cause. No injuries or property-damage reports appear in the CPSC notice, and the recall applies only to units made within the identified date-code ranges.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
The CPSC notice reports no incidents, injuries, or illnesses, recorded as “None reported” in the notice’s own incidents field. That covers NorthStar Trailer-Mounted Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washers and the other two recalled models, as of the announcement.
That does not mean a fire, burn, or smoke event cannot happen. It means none had reached Northern Tool + Equipment or CPSC by the notice date. Reports are not proof the defect caused a specific incident.
Anyone who experienced smoke, flames, or a burn injury while using one of these pressure washers can report it to CPSC. They may also want a legal review of what happened.
What Should Consumers Do?
Anyone who owns or operates this recalled NorthStar pressure washer within the identified code ranges should take the following steps:
- Stop using the pressure washer immediately, even if it has not shown any problem.
- Check the engine label for the item number and serial number code, and check the label under the NorthStar logo for the burner date code.
- Contact Northern Tool + Equipment toll-free at 888-518-0342 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday) or by email at inquiry@northerntool.com to schedule a free repair.
- Keep records of the purchase, the unit’s labels, and any communication with Northern Tool + Equipment about the repair.
- Report any fire, burn, or smoke problem with this pressure washer to CPSC through SaferProducts.gov[2].
Legal Options
No lawsuit, class action, or multidistrict litigation has been filed over NorthStar hot water pressure washers. The federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation‘s pending docket list shows no matching case[3].
A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. An attorney can review a fire, smoke, or burn incident involving one of these pressure washers on its own facts.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for filing a legal claim over an injury like this come from state law, not from the recall itself, and they are not the same everywhere.
The clock can depend on where the injury happened, when it happened, and when it was discovered, so two similar cases can face different filing windows.
Missing a deadline can end a claim even with strong facts, so anyone considering one should talk to a lawyer promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NorthStar Pressure Washer Models Are Covered by Recall No. 26-224?
Recall No. 26-224 covers three NorthStar models: the Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water Pressure Washer (Item #157310), the Gas Hot Water Commercial Pressure Washer (Item #157594), and the Trailer-Mounted model (Item #157595). This page covers that Trailer-Mounted model, one of about 1,416 units recalled.
Who Manufactures NorthStar Pressure Washers?
NorthStar Pressure Washers are manufactured by Northern Tool + Equipment Manufacturing, based in Faribault, Minnesota, and made in the United States. The CPSC notice for this recall also covers the Trailer-Mounted model this page discusses.
What Happens After I Report an Incident to CPSC?
After you report an incident to CPSC about this pressure washer, SaferProducts.gov adds it to its searchable public database, and the manufacturer can respond to reports about its own product.
Is the NorthStar Pressure Washer Recall Still Active?
Yes, the NorthStar pressure washer recall is still active. CPSC processed Recall No. 26-224 as a Fast Track Recall, and no expansion, termination, or reannouncement notice has been posted since it was announced, based on this review.
What Does an Attorney Review of a NorthStar Pressure Washer Incident Look At?
An attorney review of a fire, burn, or smoke incident involving this pressure washer would typically check when and how the unit was used, whether it falls within the recalled date-code ranges, and any incident records. That review does not guarantee a legal outcome.
Where Are the Burner Date Code Labels on the Other Two Recalled NorthStar Models?
The burner date code label sits in a different spot on each of the other two models. Item #157310, the Gas Wet Steam and Hot Water model, has it under the battery box. Item #157594, the Gas Hot Water Commercial model, has it under the ball valve assembly.
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Northern-Tool-Equipment-Recalls-Hot-Water-Pressure-Washers-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
- https://www.saferproducts.gov
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-March-2-2026.pdf