Stihl MS 461 / MS 461 R chainsaw fuel-line pinch fire and burn hazard (CPSC Feb 23, 2017)

## Affected machines About **100,000 US units** of Stihl **MS 461** and **MS 461 R** gas-powered professional chainsaws. | Variant | Description | |---|---| | MS 461 | Standard rear-handle pro saw | | MS 461 R | Wrap-handle variant for felling work | Per Stihl directly (not in the original CPSC notice but confirmed by the Stihl recall office and reported in Wildfire Today coverage), the recall **also covers**: - MS 461 Rescue (firefighter variant with extended chain brake guard) - GS 461 Rock Boss (concrete cutoff saw based on the MS 461 powerhead) The MS 461 family is widely used by **wildland firefighters** for fireline construction and felling — this recall received significant attention in fire-service maintenance bulletins for that reason. ### Identifying an affected unit The chainsaws are **gray and orange** with "STIHL" on the engine cover. The model number is on the **model plate, located on the starter cover**. The serial number is **under the front hand guard, on the engine housing's sprocket side**. Recalled chainsaws have a serial number between **173092800 and 181993952**. ### Production / sales window Sold at **authorized Stihl dealers nationwide** from **July 2012 through December 2016** for **about $1,000**. Manufactured by **ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG in Germany** (not the US Stihl plant in Virginia Beach — the MS 461 is a Germany-built professional saw). ## Issue The **fuel line can be pinched during assembly**, leading to leakage during use. Gasoline leaking from a pinched line near a hot exhaust creates a **fire hazard**, with consequent burn hazard to the operator. The MS 461 powerhead is high-output and runs hot under the felling-cycle duty typical of professional use, which amplifies the ignition risk if fuel leaks reach the muffler or cylinder area. Reported field incidents at recall time: - 117 reports of pinched or leaking fuel lines - 0 fires - 0 property damage - 0 injuries The 117-report count on a 100,000-unit population is a non-trivial defect rate (~0.1%), high enough to meet CPSC's threshold for a full national recall even without a single fire being reported. ## What to do 1. Find the **model plate on the starter cover** and confirm your saw is an MS 461, MS 461 R, MS 461 Rescue, or GS 461. 2. Find the **serial number under the front hand guard on the sprocket side** and confirm it falls in the range **173092800 - 181993952**. 3. If your saw is in scope, **stop using it immediately**. 4. Bring the unit to an **authorized Stihl servicing dealer** for free inspection and free repair. 5. Or call Stihl Inc. toll-free at **800-233-4729** Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET, or email **stihlrecall@stihl.us**. 6. Online: https://www.stihlusa.com/safety/recalls/ms-461-product-recall/ The dealer inspection involves removing the carburetor to inspect the fuel line for pinching damage and replacing if necessary. Inspection is typically a 15-minute job at the dealer. ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because of the fire risk on a high-output professional saw. The MS 461 is widely used in professional and wildland-firefighting contexts where the operator is far from emergency services and the saw is run continuously under heavy load — both factors amplify the consequences of a fuel-line failure. ## Note on related defect Separately from this recall, the MS 461 has been cited in field reports of a **vapor-lock-related "fuel geyser"** hazard — when the operator removes the gas cap to check fuel level, occasionally pressurized gas sprays out and can ignite, causing serious burn injuries. This is a **different defect** from the fuel-line pinch covered by this recall and is not part of CPSC's 2017 recall scope. The 2017 recall remedy does not address the fuel-geyser issue. ## Related bulletins - **TNB02600081** — Stihl MS 391 chainsaw flywheel projectile hazard (CPSC Feb 14, 2012). Different defect (flywheel crack vs fuel line pinch), same Stihl chainsaw family. - **TNB02600082** — Stihl MS 361 C-Q chainsaw throttle trigger sticking laceration hazard (CPSC Dec 23, 2010). Earlier Stihl chainsaw recall. - **TNB02600079** — Stihl MSA 300 battery chainsaw delayed-brake recall (CPSC 2023). More recent chainsaw safety recall. ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "STIHL Recalls Chain Saws Due to Fire and Burn Hazards," February 23, 2017. - Manufacturer: ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG (Germany). - Importer: Stihl Inc., of Virginia Beach, Virginia. - Stihl recall page: https://www.stihlusa.com/safety/recalls/ms-461-product-recall/