Bissell, a well-trusted vacuum and floor cleaning manufacturer, has just issued a recall on the Bissell Multi Reach Hand and Floor Vacuum Cleaners due to potential fire hazard complications.
In a statement released by Bissell, the brand states the reason for their voluntary recall is because "the battery pack can overheat and smoke, resulting in a fire hazard." This recall was issued on February 1, 2024, and affects about 142,000 vacuum cleaners, in addition to roughly 14,600 units sold in Canada, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These cleaners were sold from August 2016 through December 2022 at Lowe’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Best Buy and other stores nationwide, and online at www.bissell.com, www.amazon.com, www.hsn.com and other sellers.
Carolyn Forté, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director and our residential cleaning-product expert, says the cause of the issue is unclear, but a defect in the battery of the Multi Reach Hand and Floor Vacuum can be dangerous. "[From my understanding], the battery pack on these models was smoking and, in some cases, catching fire, causing damage or injury," Forté says. "These types of batteries are usually well sealed, with the only open connections being where they attach to the vacuum or connect to an outlet. So, there’s really nothing a consumer could do to cause or prevent this from happening."
Bissell has received 17 reports from customers about the model smoking and/or emitting a burning odor. "Six of these reports included the battery pack catching fire, three of which resulted in minor property damage and two resulting in minor burn injuries," according to the CPSC.
You can check if your Bissell vacuum is one of the affected models by removing the dirt tank and reading the product information label. If the model number written on a large black bar is one of the numbers listed in Bissell's recall statement: 1985, 19851, 19859, 1985T, 1985C, 2151, 21512, 21513, 21517, 21518, 21519, 2151A, 2151C, 2151T, 2151W and 2151V, you can properly dispose of the faulty battery, and fill out a form to receive a replacement vacuum for free.
The form will ask you for the vacuum cleaner's model number, serial number, a photo of your product information sticker and shipping address. It will also require you to attest that you will correctly deplete and dispose of the battery according to local and state regulations. Bissell instructs consumers to deplete the battery "by removing the attachments from the hand vac portion and turning on the machine until it stops on its own." You can then remove the battery from the vacuum by pressing on the side buttons as you pull it out.
If you are unsure of how to safely remove and throw out the battery, it's best to contact customer service. "Consumers are advised to call Bissell to learn how to deplete the battery and then to dispose of it according to their local town guidelines," Forté says.
In general, Forté advises handling batteries properly and carefully and to replace broken pieces in a vacuum cleaner. "Batteries that aren’t holding a charge or are damaged or recharging cords that are broken should be discarded and replaced," she recommends. "Always make sure that any washable parts or filters are completely dry before reassembling the vacuum."
Wait to dispose of your vacuum and the battery until the replacement vacuum has arrived, which Bissell says will take about two to three weeks to be delivered. Contact customer service regarding the recall at 1-855-417-7001 or via email at RecallNA@bissell.com with any questions or concerns about depleting the battery, receiving a replacement, affected models and more. For more information, check the CPSC website or read the full statement from Bissell.
Isabella (she/her) covers commerce and product-related content in the home, lifestyle, fitness, technology and beauty. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in English: Literature & Rhetoric. Before joining GH, she was an editorial assistant at Prevention, where she covered health topics and celebrity news.
