American Honda Motor announced today the recall of Honda HRN216 series lawn mowers, Honda HRX217K6 lawn mowers, and the Honda GCV170/200 G5B pressure washer engine. In total, approximately 391,800 units have been recalled.
Improperly manufactured camshafts in the engines can cause the starter rope to suddenly retract when pulled to start, posing an injury hazard, according to a Consumer Product Safety Commission recall bulletin released today.
A safety recall notice (PDF) provided by Honda elaborated, stating that for units equipped with an electric starter, this manufacturing defect may prevent the starter motor on mowers with electric start from successfully starting the engine.
American Honda Motor Co., based in Torrance, California, stated that it has received 2,197 reports of incidents related to camshaft failures, including seven reports of minor injuries.
The lawn mowers were sold at Honda Power Equipment dealers, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Northern Tool, and various farm, agricultural, and rental stores nationwide from May 2022 to June 2023, with prices ranging from $550 to $1,100.
The gas walk-behind lawn mowers are red and black with “Honda” printed on the clipping collection bag. The model and serial number are printed on a label located on the upper rear of the mower deck. The specific serial number range of the HRN216 mowers affected by the recall is from MANA-2084904 to MANA-2548569. The specific serial number range of the HRX217 mowers affected by the recall is from MAMA-1484182 to MAMA-1734418.
However, Honda noted in its safety recall notice, “Many lawn mowers within the serial number ranges below are NOT affected.”
Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled lawn mowers and pressure washers equipped with the recalled engine and to contact an authorized Honda Power Equipment dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and repair. They can also call American Honda Motor at 888-888-3139 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit powerequipment.honda.com/support/recalls-and-updates or crmshonda.my.salesforce-sites.com/service/pew2c.
Consumer Reports has rated three Honda HRN216 models. They differ in some features but all share the recalled engine. The Honda HRN216VLA has been rated at the top of our ratings of gas self-propelled lawn mowers, with an excellent overall score. Right beneath it is the Honda HRN216VKA gas self-propelled mower, also with an excellent overall score. The Honda HRN216PKA gas push mower is currently rated at the top of CR’s gas push mower ratings, with a very good overall score.
Details of the pressure washer engine recall are incomplete. The recalled pressure washer engine is mounted on various original equipment manufacturer frames and was sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other retail stores nationwide from June 2022 to August 2023, with prices ranging from $370 to $550.
The serial number of the engine is engraved on a flat spot on the engine.
Honda has not specified the pressure washer brands using the affected engine but has stated that consumers can find the serial numbers of the recalled engine on the Honda recall page. Consumer Reports tested that interactive feature today and found it did not work properly to identify affected serial numbers, so we obtained a safety recall notice listing the affected serial numbers (PDF) from Honda.
As with the mowers, Honda advises consumers to immediately stop using pressure washers equipped with the recalled engine and to contact an authorized Honda Power Equipment dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and repair. They can also call American Honda Motor at 888-888-3139 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit powerequipment.honda.com/support/recalls-and-updates or crmshonda.my.salesforce-sites.com/service/pew2c.
Even though it provided the serial number range, Honda did not specify the pressure washer brands using the recalled engine.
William Wallace, associate director of safety policy at Consumer Reports, expressed concern about whether Honda, the pressure washer brands, or retailers would be reaching out further to consumers to help them figure out whether their pressure washer is subject to the recall. “The information provided thus far is pretty cumbersome,” Wallace says. “I don’t know how many people are going to see a headline about Honda—rather than the brand name of their pressure washer—then decide to check their engine’s serial number.”
Honda did not follow up with a response before this article’s published.
The recall: This recall involves Honda HRN216 and HRX217K6 lawn mowers and the GCV170/200 G5B pressure washer engine. The gas-fueled walk-behind lawn mowers are red and black with “HONDA” printed on the clipping collection bag. The model and serial number are printed on a label located on the upper rear of the mower deck. The pressure washer engine is mounted on various original equipment manufacturer frames. The serial number of the engine is engraved on a flat spot on the engine.
The risk: The improperly manufactured camshafts in the engine can cause the starter rope to suddenly retract when pulled to start, posing an injury hazard.
Incidents/injuries: Honda has received 2,197 reports of incidents related to camshaft failures, including seven reports of minor injuries.
Where and when sold: The lawn mowers were sold at Honda Power Equipment dealers, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Northern Tool, and various farm, agricultural, and rental stores nationwide from May 2022 to June 2023, with prices ranging from $550 to $1,100. The pressure washer engine was sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other retail stores nationwide from June 2022 to August 2023, with prices ranging from $370 to $550.
The remedy: Immediately stop using the recalled lawn mowers and pressure washers equipped with recalled engine and contact an authorized Honda Power Equipment dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and repair.
Contact information: Call American Honda Motor at 888-888-3139 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit powerequipment.honda.com/support/recalls-and-updates or crmshonda.my.salesforce-sites.com/service/pew2c.
To report a defective product, call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 or go to saferproducts.gov.
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