Manifold and Coupler Valve Labels Reversed – Pittsburgh Automotive A/C R134A Manifold Gauge Sets

September 1, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20E062000

Manifold and Coupler Valve Labels Reversed

The incorrect labels may result in the release of pressurized refrigerant, increasing the risk of injury.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E062

Manufacturer Harbor Freight Tools

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 22,050

 

Summary

Harbor Freight Tools (Harbor Freight) is recalling certain Pittsburgh Automotive A/C R134A Manifold Gauge Sets, part number 62707, sold between May 22, 2020 and August 11, 2020. The labels for the high pressure and low pressure manifold and coupler valves may have been swapped, incorrectly stating which way to open or close the valves.

 

Remedy

Harbor Freight will notify owners, and send new replacement labels with instructions how to correctly apply them over the original labels. The recall began October 13, 2020. Owners may contact Harbor Freight customer service at 1-800-444-3353.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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September 30, 2020

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE

 

CUSTOMER NAME

CUSTOMER ADDRESS

 

Re: AC Manifold Gauge Set Recall

NHTSA Campaign I.D. Number: 20E062

 

Dear Valued Customer,

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Harbor Freight Tools (“HFT”) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety may exist in certain Pittsburgh Automotive AC Manifold Gauge Sets item number 62707 sold between May 22, 2020 and August 11, 2020. Our records indicate that you have purchased at least one of these AC Manifold Gauge Sets.

 

What is the Condition?

For certain units of the Pittsburgh Automotive AC Manifold Gauge Sets (Item 62707) the labels on the high pressure and low pressure manifold and coupler valves may have been erroneously switched on their knobs during the factory labeling process – with reversed instructions as to the direction to open or close the valves. The instructions in the product manual are correct.  If the manifold labels display the word ‘coupler’ and the coupler labels display the word ‘manifold’, you have an affected unit. Enclosed are new labels for the manifold and coupler valves and directions on how to apply them correctly. If the couplers are attached to your vehicle and opened inadvertently, this could cause serious injury to people near a vehicle when the AC Manifold Gauge Sets are in use, and/or damage to property. As a precautionary measure, please discontinue use of the AC Manifold Gauge Set(s) identified below immediately until you apply the new labels.

AC Manifold Gauge Sets included in this recall campaign include:

Item Number	Item Description	Sale Date Range
62707	Pittsburgh Automotive AC Manifold Gauge Set	May 22, 2020 to August 11, 2020

 

The item number for 62707 can be identified by checking the label on the back of each AC Manifold Gauge Set.

 

The affected units were produced between March 23, 2020 and May 17, 2020. You must check to see if your unit was produced during this timeframe by checking the serial number/ batch code located on the back of the manifold gauge. Not all AC Manifold Gauge Sets will have the labels incorrectly installed.

 

The affected serial number / batch codes are:

 

• 374272013
• 374272014
• 374272015
• 374272020

 

If the serial number and batch code fall within the range for possible defect, as a precautionary measure you must discontinue use of the AC Manifold Gauge Set(s) immediately and install the replacement labels before using the item. AC Manifold Gauge Set(s) SHOULD NOT be returned to HFT stores.

 

What will Harbor Freight Tools do?

We are providing customers who purchased units between May 22, 2020 and August 11, 2020, with the enclosed replacement labels for the manifold and coupler knobs. If you purchased the affected unit during this time period and your unit has the affected batch code, you must re-label the unit following the below remedy procedure.

 

What should you do?

If your unit was produced with one of the affected batch codes, follow the below installation instructions to install the corrected labels. Once the corrected labels have been applied, you may resume use of your AC Manifold Gauge Set. If your manifold gauge set already has labels in the correct positions, you do not need to take any action and can continue using your unit (and discard the labels you received).

• Start by remedying the labels on your manifold. Place blue label that states ‘manifold’ on the blue knob as shown below. Place red label that states ‘manifold’ on the red knob as shown below:

 

• Next, remedy the labels on your couplers. Place blue label that states ‘coupler’ on the blue knob as shown below. Place the red label that states ‘coupler’ on the red knob shown below:

 

Customer Service Help:

If you have any questions or concerns please contact: Recall@HarborFreight.com

Harbor Freight Tools Attn: Customer Service
P.O. Box 6010
Camarillo, CA 93011-6010
800-444-3353

If you still believe that HFT failed to remedy the issue described above without charge and within 60 days of the date of this notice, you may file a complaint with:

Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590

Or call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to https://www.safercar.gov

Thank you for being a Harbor Freight Tools customer. We regret this inconvenience but hope you understand that our concern for your safety is paramount.

Sincerely,

Harbor Freight Tools

 

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SAFETY RECALL

 

Pittsburgh Automotive AC Manifold Gauge Set Item Number 62707

 

For certain units of the Pittsburgh Automotive AC Manifold Gauge Set, the high pressure and low pressure manifold and coupler valve labels may have been erroneously switched on their knobs during the factory labeling process – with reversed instructions as to the direction to open or close the valves. If the couplers are attached to your vehicle in the open position, this could cause serious injury to people near a vehicle when the AC Manifold Gauge Sets are in use, and/or damage to property.

 

THIS RECALL ONLY CONCERNS SELECT BATCHES OF AC MANIFOLD GAUGE SET

ITEM NUMBER 62707. The affected units were produced between March 23, 2020 and May 17, 2020. The AC Manifold Gauge Set item number 62707 can be identified by checking the item number found on the label on the back of each AC Manifold Gauge Set. The affected batch codes are: 374272013, 374272014, 374272015 and 374272020.

 

You must check to see if your unit was produced during this timeframe by checking the serial number located on the back of the manifold gauge.

 

If you have one of these items, STOP USING THESE AC MANIFOLD GAUGE SETS

IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT RETURN THE ITEM TO THE STORE.  Request replacement labels and instructions by visiting:

https://images.harborfreight.com/hftweb/recalls/AC_Manifold_Gauge_Submission_Form_62707.pdf ,  or email recall@harborfreight.com.

In cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Post until January 15, 2022

 

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR AC MANIFOLD GAUGE SET ITEM NUMBER 62707

 

THIS RECALL ONLY CONCERNS AC MANIFOLD GAUGE SET ITEM NUMBER 62707.

 

The affected units were produced between March 23, 2020 and May 17, 2020. The AC Manifold Gauge Set item number 62707 will be identified by checking the item number found on the label on the back of each AC Manifold Gauge Set. Check the item number and ensure that it is 62707. If so, continue. If not, you do not have an item that is in-scope of the Recall.

 

Next, check to see if your unit, item number 62707, was produced during the recall specific timeframe by checking the serial number/ batch code located on the back of the manifold gauge.

 

The affected batch codes are: 

• 374272013
• 374272014
• 374272015
• 374272020

 

If you have one of these items, STOP USING THE AC MANIFOLD GAUGE SET IMMEDIATELY.

If the affected batch code is found, you must re-label the unit following this procedure:

• Start by remedying the labels on your manifold. Place the blue label that states ‘manifold’ on the blue knob as shown below. Place the red label that states ‘manifold’ on the red knob as shown below:

 

• Next, remedy the labels on your coupler. Place the blue label that states ‘coupler’ on the blue knob as shown below. Place the red label that states ‘coupler’ on the red knob shown below:

 

Once corrective labels have been applied, you may resume use of your AC Manifold Gauge Set. If your manifold gauge set already has labels in the correct positions you don’t have to do anything and can discard the labels you received.

 

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AC Manifold Gauge Set Recall – Label Kit Request Form

In order for us to supply you with the label kit for your AC Manifold Gauge Set, as further described in the “Safety Notice” (linked above on this webpage), you must first review the Safety Notice and confirm whether your AC Manifold Gauge Set, item # 62707, is subject to the recall. The label kit will include installation instructions to complete the action. Please complete this form in Adobe Reader, save it to your computer and email it to recall@harborfreight.com.

 

AC Manifold Gauge Sets subject to the Recall (sold between May 22, 2020 and August 11, 2020):

 

If you are unsure whether your AC Manifold Gauge Set is subject to this recall, please contact Harbor Freight Customer Service at 1-800-444-3353 before submitting form.

 

Item 62707 Manifold Gauge Set Serial Number/ Batch Code

 

Customer Name

 

Customer Street Address

 

City, State & Zip Code

 

By emailing this form to recall@harborfreight.com, you certify that you are the customer named above and a current owner of the AC Manifold Gauge Set listed above.

 

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1 Affected Product

Equipment

BRAND	PART NO.	PRODUCTION DATES
PITTSBURGH AUTOMOTIVE	A/C MANIFOLD GAUGE SET

 

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13 Associated Documents

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20E062-5755.pdf 636.536KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-20E062-1256.PDF 214.838KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20E062-0986.pdf 507.801KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20E062-6233.pdf 245.986KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20E062-3778.PDF 214.814KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document-20E062 Manifold Gauge Set Recall Social Media Posting

RMISC-20E062-8735.pdf 310.209KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20E062-7204.PDF 211.133KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document – 20E062 AC Manifold Gauge Label Kit Request Fillable Form FINAL

RMISC-20E062-4329.pdf 145.482KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document-20E062 Manifold Gauge Set Recall Poster- Final

RMISC-20E062-0376.pdf 233.984KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-1

RCLQRT-20E062-6764.PDF 211.243KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #5, 2021-4

RCLQRT-20E062-7185.PDF 211.544KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2021-3

RCLQRT-20E062-2687.PDF 211.424KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-2

RCLQRT-20E062-0443.PDF 211.424KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20E062&docType=RCL

 

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