SunSetter Recalls Vinyl Covers for Motorized Awnings Due to Impact and Fall Hazards; One Death Reported (Recall Alert)
Recall 19767 · Aug 13, 2019 · SunSetter
270,000
units affected
270,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 19767
- Date
- Aug 13, 2019
- Company
- SunSetter
- Units affected
- 270,000
- Product
- Vinyl covers for SunSetter Motorized Awnings
- Remedy
- Repair
- Hazard
- Falls
The product
This recall involves all soft vinyl awning covers used with SunSetter® Motorized, Motorized XL, Motorized PRO, Motorized PROXL, and Oasis Freestanding Motorized Retractable Awnings distributed by SunSetter from June 1999 to January 2019 and supplied with bungee tie-downs. Covers for manually operated awnings are not affected by this recall.
What can happen
If a powered awning is activated while the cover is secured with bungee tie-downs, when the cover is removed, the awning can open unexpectedly with enough force to strike a consumer standing in the awning's path, causing them to fall and suffer death or serious injury.
The fix
Consumers should not attempt to install covers for the motorized awnings or remove any installed covers until they have received instructions from SunSetter. Consumers should contact SunSetter for free breakaway safety clips (that replace the bungee tie-downs provided with the cover) and instructions for their use, and instructions on how to safely remove any installed bungee tie-downs (available at https://www.sunsetter.com/safety). SunSetter is contacting all known purchasers directly.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- The Firm has received 14 reports of incidents, including one report of a death and six reports of injuries. In one reported incident, a 73-year-old man died after falling from a ladder and over a balcony when a motorized awning opened unexpectedly and struck him while he was removing the cover's bungee tie-downs.
- Sold at
- The recalled covers were sold for about $100 or distributed as a promotional item or as part of a package with motorized awnings directly by SunSetter, through independent dealers nationwide, and through Costco Wholesale, between June 1999 and January 2019.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled vinyl covers for sunsetter motorized awnings?
Consumers should not attempt to install covers for the motorized awnings or remove any installed covers until they have received instructions from SunSetter. Consumers should contact SunSetter for free breakaway safety clips (that replace the bungee tie-downs provided with the cover) and instructions for their use.
What is the hazard?
If a powered awning is activated while the cover is secured with bungee tie-downs, when the cover is removed, the awning can open unexpectedly with enough force to strike a consumer standing in the awning's path, causing them to fall and suffer death or serious injury.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.