Alltrade, makers of the Kawasaki cordless drills sold at Costco, has recalled about 45,000 units due to defective (or poorly designed) switches. The triggers can short out, heating things up to the point where the tools can pose a burn hazard.
Model 691761 with specific serial numbers are included in the recall. These drills were sold through Costco stores May 2011 through Feb 2012, and were priced at ~$50.
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If you have one of these drills, check out the CPSC alert to see if its serial number is included by the recall. Users affected by this should stop using the drill immediately and contact Alltrade to receive a free replacement.
There have been 33 reported incidents and one minor burn injury.
More Info via US CPSC
Robert
Most people are aware that voltage ratings and general performance have little relationship. That’s only common when comparing tools from the same line and manufacturer. Even then, they’re often unrelated. I don’t know how these Kawakaki tools are at present, but I’ve checked them out in the past. The ones I saw were very under torqued compared to “average” tools with similar voltage ratings. Their performance was less than stellar.
Except for light usage, I wouldn’t take one of these very seriously. The burn hazard only adds to the list of reasons to avoid them. You’d be better off with something from Ryobi or Craftsman in particular, where you’d at least have a prayer of dealing with the store to correct a problem.
Robert
Fred
I think what you mean is that not all 18v motors will produce the same torque or driving power, not all 19.2v motors will produce the same results either. If that is what you mean to say, that part is correct.
Comparing this particular 19.2v drill to others or to 18v, yes it comes up short. It’s intended as more of a ‘home handyman’ type drill, at that particular price point. I looked into these when Costco first introduced them and they seemed solid, but I didn’t get it when Kawasaki didn’t expand the line. The burn/overheating has been a known issue for several months at least among various reviews/discussion forums.
Comparing this model to a Ryobi or Craftsman is about right; the only part that would be ‘better off’ is if the other tools don’t have this particular issue. If you are saying either of those is a better drill, keep looking, particularly at Dewalt, Milwaukee, & Bosch.
James C
In my experience (although not with tools), Costco has one of the most lenient return policies I’ve ever seen. Have you had a different experience?
L1
After reading that this product was made in PRC, this doesn’t surprise me that this unit has issues, this time safety issues. Considering this product is Intertek rated instead of UL listed, that just furthers my point. As well as the fact this product isn’t even double insulated either.
Honestly this is why I lean more towards to older cordless drills made in 1980’s and 1990’s as I have a vintage Dewalt cordless Drill, model number DW990 and had never had an issue with this product. Plus this drill was made in USA as well. Auctioning sites are the best place to find these types of tools.
Robert
Fred,
In different words, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Voltage ratings are not a consistent factor in determing actual usable torque.
As the model comparisons are concerned, I’m comparing apples to apples. Comparing this to a Milwaukee, Bosch, etc, is a stretch. Those tools are in an entirely different class. The Ryobi and Craftsman are in a similar class, at least as far as I’m concerned. Although I do in fact think that even the Ryobi is a better tool, that’s not what I’m driving at. With the Kawasaki, you’d be pretty much between a rock and a hard place with service after the sale. If there’s a problem, you’d probably be alone in the wilderness. What I’m saying is that at least with the other two names, particularly the Craftsman, you’d at least have a prayer of getting the situation resolved with the retailer.
Robert
Fred
Considering real world performance, the Craftsman 19.2v tools (the only other major 19.2v I can think of now, the only apples to apples I can provide) are poor compared to almost any of the 3 18v tools I mentioned. In fact for regular drilling & driving, based on my experience one of the 3 major brands’ 10.8/12v tools may come close to the performance the Crafty 19.2v. A friend got the drill & light combo as a gift and on a full charge, the light gave us something like 15 mins of light. The drill was similar. He went back to using his Dewalt 14.4v drill halfway through the project and had to use both batteries for the light.
Your recommendations of Ryobi & Craftsman leave you with a one-store option, so you’re at Sears or HD’s mercy in terms of service, additional components & accessories, replacement parts, and in general ‘service after the sale.’ So in those terms, both of those brands are only marginally better than this Kawasaki. The 18v technology used in these tools is more likely to be the same manufacturer, research, probably the same motors & battery cells inside while the 19.2v tech never really took off and thus whatever failures are likely to be across the platform. Not enough companies bought into it to provide additional real world research and suggestions for improvements.
My suggestion is always to get an industry-standard tool that is sold at multiple stores. Not only can you take advantage of finding something in stock somewhere, but also you have multiple sources of opinions about the tool, sales, and more likely to hear if it’s bad due to the likelihood the tool will be more popular.
Robert
Fred,
We are clearly on two different planes. You’re on a course that is miles from where I am. To say that the other players, DeWalt, Bosch, etc, are better, is clear to anyone who ever picked up a power tool. That’s a case of stating the obvious.
All I’m saying is that the Kawasaki is basically junk. When comparing ANY other similarly priced tools, forget about Ryobi and Craftsman, I’d rather deal with certain retailers than to be left out to dry with this. That’s the extent of it. In spite of the fact that I see the Kawasaki on a lower level than the other two, that’s not my point. I’m not singing the praises of Ryobi or Craftsman.
I’d rather deal with Sears or Home Depot, than to be stuck with no way to remedy a problem with this junk. That’s the extent of it.
Robert
Fred
I’d rather deal with Sears or Home Depot, than to be stuck with no way to remedy a problem with this junk. That’s the extent of it.
I think that’s the root of it. I’d rather deal with the manufacturer. I’ve bought plenty of Craftsman tools, and I have a few Ridgid as well, so I have to deal with the stores too. Every experience I’ve had with a tool manufacturer, good or bad, is better still than dealing with the stores. I’ve had hassles with both, I’ve had good experiences with both. But in general the stores tend to have an old fashioned ‘prove us wrong’ viewpoint and the manufacturers tend to give me less BS about it.
Either way that’s a moot point since the Kawasaki sold by Costco is not warranted or serviced by Costco. The article discusses a tool that has problems and is neither a major tool brand or retailer. And since this is being recalled by the manufacturer, the store from which it was purchased isn’t relevant anyway.
Since this and the tools you provide as an example tend to be more ‘value’ priced, I am suggesting that this is misleading. Low price does not equal value. In my experience, Ryobi & Craftsman cordless tools are also basically junk. Several, but not all of the PC cordless tools are also.
In buying a name brand tool that (in the context of cordless tools, where the batteries area major component of the price you pay) you know will expand their line and give you more value with each new tool, vs a brand that offers one or only a few tools for their system.
Oni
I agree that Craftsman and Ryobi cordless drills are not that great, but it’s no surprise given the coo. The best cordless tools are vintage ones, as most of those are either made in the United States of America. Some are made in Germany and Mexico I’ve heard.
As for battery packs, instead of buying new battery packs, all you need to do is simply replace the cells inside the pack. This can be done at shops such as Battery Plus. Much cheaper and the cells last much longer.
Jack
I bought a Kawasaki drill once. I was at a friends house and he asked me to put together a pick-nick table that he bought. So rather than go a hour home to get my Makita I picked one up at Farm & Fleet five minutes from his house for $50ish. After opening it and seeing it needed to charge for 12 hours I ended going home to get mine anyway. I decided to keep it for a spare for when going to the junk yard to pull parts. When I finally tried to use it and it worked for a total of about 5 minutes. I tried to return it to the store but had left the receipt at my friends house and his wife had thrown it away so no refund. I didn’t get angry when they refused when I told them it worked for five minutes, I threw it in the trash beside the register and politely told them that I had gotten better service from the “pro” who gave me crabs and that she was more likely than them to get my return business.
So strike against Kawasaki (for building a drill that last 5 minutes) and Farm & Fleet for losing a customer over a $50 drill.
Anonymous
You should have taken that drill apart to see the insides.
bryon
I have one of your drills and I have the same problem my model number is690505
bryon
Hi I have had the same problem is there a recall on them.
jim
Byron, did yours oveheat or just fail, I would be very interested in seeing it and speaking with you if it overheated.
Gerry
Mine just gave a pop and started to smoke and got pretty warm after a full charge I managed to get 5 screws in ! It sits on a shelf most of its life as a light duty home use drill it has had a baby’s life and is dead now just googled it now and find a major recall on it as its a 691761 guess il keep my fingers crossed and c if I send it out and wait for a replacement or go buy from a different manufacturer did anyone notice the serial number space in white where there should be a number is just a white strip with no number ??
Jim C
Gerry,
I would like to but the dead drill from you. Have several similar cases to yours as well.