Rayovac Cordless Tools Battery Recall Expanded Amid Explosions

More than 175,000 Rayovac battery packs used with cordless tools have been recalled over the past year due to concerns that they may explode and cause injuries for consumers.

Last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission expanded a Rayovac cordless tool battery recall, adding about 65,300 NI-CD and NI-MH battery packs to an estimated 111,800 that were removed from the market late last year due to a risk that they may spontaneously explode.

Since the original Rayovac battery recall was issued in December 2011, at least three new reports have been received of the cordless tool battery packs exploding, including at least one case where a consumer suffered an injury to their finger.

The expansion adds Rayovac NI-CD and Rayovac NI-MH Cordless Tool Battery Packs that have part numbers beginning with “CTL,” which is written in white lettering on the side of the product. The Rayovac batteries were sold in retail stores and online at www.batteriesplus.com between June 2008 and July 2012, with prices ranging from $60 to $70.

The recalled battery packs were sold as replacement batteries for a number of cordless tool brands, including Black and Decker, Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Lincoln, Milwaukee, Panasonic, Ryobi, and Skil. Various sizes and shapes were made, with voltages ranging between 2.4 and 18 volts.

The CPSC has determined that the unexpectedly exploding battery packs could pose a serious risk of injury, and has recommended that consumers stop using the recalled batteries immediately and remove them from cordless tools.

For instructions on how to return the battery packs for store credit, consumers can call Batteries Plus at (877) 856-3232 or visit the company’s website at www.batteriesplus.com.