Ryobi Class Action Lawsuit Claims Pressure Washer Recall Provided Insufficient Solution for Consumers

Plaintiff claims the recall remedy is insufficient and places the burden to repair on customers, while leaving users at continued risk of injury.

A California woman has filed a class action lawsuit alleging that her Ryobi electric pressure washer is defectively designed, fails to perform as advertised, and poses a serious risk of injury to users.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Lauren Morgan in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on October 13, naming Techtronic Industries Company Limited and TTI Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., the manufacturers of the Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer, as defendants.

Electric pressure washers use electric motors to generate high-pressure water streams for cleaning, offering a cleaner and quieter alternative to gas-powered units.

However, Morgan’s complaint is among a growing number of pressure washer lawsuits filed in recent months alleging that defective Ryobi pressure washers have caused users to suffer severe injuries following overheating and explosion incidents.

Earlier this year, TTI issued a recall of the Ryobi Electric Pressure Washers, warning that certain Ryobi 2300 PSI and 2700 PSI electric pressure washers’ capacitors could overheat and burst, causing parts to be forcibly ejected, leading to severe injuries for users or bystanders.

Roughly 764,000 of the recalled Ryobi Electric Pressure Washers were sold through Home Depot, Direct Tools Factory Outlet stores and online between July 2017 and June 2024.

At the time of the recall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had already received reports of more than 130 incidents where the pressure washers had overheated, resulting in at least 41 explosions and 32 injuries, including fractures to fingers, hands, faces and eyes.

In her complaint, Morgan says she purchased a Ryobi 2300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer from Home Depot’s website in April 2023 for about $400, believing it to be a safe and dependable product.

However, Morgan argues the repair kit offered by the manufacturer was inadequate because it forces consumers to perform their own repairs instead of receiving refunds or replacements. The lawsuit also alleges that the repair kits do not guarantee the defect has been resolved, leaving consumers uncertain whether the products can ever be used safely.

The complaint notes that Ryobi pressure washers are sold with a three-year limited warranty promising they are free from defects in materials and workmanship, yet Morgan claims the recall was poorly publicized, leaving many owners unaware of the safety risk and allowing defective devices to remain in use.

Furthermore, Morgan alleges that the recall violates California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which bars manufacturers from requiring consumers to fix defective products under warranty, accusing TTI of conducting a “half-hearted” recall to protect profits rather than consumers.

“As a direct result of these misrepresentations, Plaintiff and Class Members purchased defective Products that failed to perform as advertised and posed a substantial risk of serious injury.”

— Lauren Morgan v. Techtronic Industries Company Limited et al

Morgan raises allegations of breach of express and implied warranty, negligence, unjust enrichment and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law.

She seeks class action certification for all U.S. consumers who purchased the recalled Ryobi 2300 PSI and 2700 PSI electric pressure washers, along with more than $5 million in damages. The lawsuit also requests injunctive relief requiring TTI to make the recalled products safe or clearly disclose that they fail to meet safety standards, and to conduct a corrective advertising campaign while providing refunds or replacements to affected customers.

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