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With all this data and injury stories we see it is important to follow instructions and guidelines on these products and to check for any correspondence or notices from retailers and manufactures for recalls of any product. Examine your jack standswhether the pawl, pin, or screw type. If you are a member of the media and have a question about a case, please send us an email at media@hmglawfirm.com and we will respond in a timely manner. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help. But also remember that the parking brake generally only works on the rear axle. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Once down, and before getting underneath, double check the vehicle's stability. I'm a supervisor and I would've took these back no questions asked and im sure my store manager would've too. The Jack Stands I was attempting to return were not specifically recalled, but when the recall of similar models happened I tested these jack stands myself and found that they can fail under certain conditions. This is dramatically illustrated by a few photos from a Reddit user, who shared it with us anonymously and we're reprinting here with permission. Check your specific jack stands' manual or label to confirm the weight rating to make sure that you've actually got the right equipment to support your vehicle. Consult the owner's manual to determine how to lift. I can guarantee it. Has this happened to anyone else? He's had a lifelong obsession with cars and motorcycles (both old and new), and covers them for CNET Cars as its news & features editor. In May of 2020, the company recalled 1.2 million Pittsburgh Automotive 3 Ton Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands because the products ratchet teeth may not sufficiently engage the pall to a sufficient depth, potentially causing it to fail under load. These models appear on the following harbor freight web page stating they can be returned without a receipt at the customers discretion, even though they were not recalled: https://www.harborfreight.com/js-details. Where you lift from, and where you place your jack stands under the vehicle, is going to vary depending on the vehicle in question. 719 S Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Mo-Fr: 8AM - 5PM. Make sure you check the number before you use them again, and tell everyone you know. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship. You can see the mark, below: Without knowing about the recall, this sort of defect would be incredibly hard (if not impossible) for a user to noticeuntil the vehicle came crashing down, with potentially tragic consequences. A sturdy piece of wood can also be used in a pinch. It could save your life. The new design looks good though. Our guide below is intended not as a how-to, since every car and truck is different, but rather as an outline of some best practices that will get you thinking critically about your methods. First, ensure they're rated for your vehicle's weight. Right? My local HF only has the new 3 tons and of course they are sold out. Make sure the jack is stable and in good working order. Chocks are simple wedge-like devices that prevent the vehicle from rolling. If you have these stands, Harbor Freight is giving consumers who bought these stands a store gift card equal to the retail price at the time the stands were purchased. A design flaw caused by old tooling in the factory that constructed them could cause the pawl to disengage, letting the jack (and the vehicle on top of it) suddenly and unexpectedly drop. Regardless of what you'll be lifting or supporting the vehicle with, check the condition of all of them. Working underneath a lifted car is inherently extremely dangerous, and it's easy to be cavalier or place too much trust in equipment that might not deserve it. I showed a cashier the Instagram post where the CEO states that they will accept any jack stand return and it wasnt a problem for me. The truth is, despite their cheapness, most of the stuff from Harbor Freight is fine. If any of this equipment is bent, damaged, or appears questionable, don't use it. Only raise the vehicle as much as you need to do the job safelymore height means more potential instability. These are pawl-type jack stands, with a pawl that engages with teeth on the lifting arm of the jack stand. The web page seems very clear that any of the listed models can be returned without a receipt. One of them only worked for like 2 days. Start with the jack stands on a lower setting. Do what you can to level the vehicle, and ensure the jack stands rest on a hard surface. Like you said you "take care of the customer". See the mark on the pawl below: There's only a sliver of paint transferred onto the tooth, a graphic illustration of how little holding power this particular set of recalled jack stands can muster. This drops the jack stand to the lowest position, possibly injuring anyone underneath. Make sure to set the parking brake, and put the vehicle in "park" or in gear to help ensure it won't roll as you lift up one end. If you have his name a simple email to corporate with his name will straighten him out. People make all kinds of jokes about the quality of tools and equipment that come from Harbor Freight. It doesn't take long to ensure you've got an escape path, or much additional equipment to give create a back-up support, so there's no reason why you can't incorporate these potential live-savers into your regular vehicle lifting routine. The terrifying Harbor Freight recall of jack stands that could fail due to a manufacturing defect is in the news right now, and it is as good a time as any to review the procedures and equipment we're all using to lift our cars. Harbor freights are not like Walmarts, some are hours apart. Please be safe while working under your car. What weight rating should you choose? Harbor Freight has recalled several series of its Pittsburgh Jack Stands. And if you have any concerns about your situation, or equipment, don't get under the vehicle. First of all, basically no one is ever going to lose their job over a return. Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. Could've gave a gift card at the very least. We serve clients throughout Michigan, Massachusetts, California, and New York, including, but not limited to, the following localities: Grand Traverse County including Traverse City; Kent County including Ada, Cutlerville, Forest Hills, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming, Harbor Freight Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands. According to the owner, one jack stand failed dramatically at the welded seam under the weight of a Volkswagen Golf (as seen in the Facebook photos below). If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled Harbor Freight jack stand, you should contact the experienced dangerous product attorneys at Neumann Law Group for a free consultation. Stop and make sure you've got the right tools for the job, and you know how to use them properlyor take the job to a professional. You can find these numbers(PDF) on the label on the top part of the stand on three-ton units, or a yellow sticker on the base on six-ton units. Some vehicles can be lifted by the axle or differential, but this could also damage other vehicles. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. If the jack points are damaged or you can't locate one, don't lift the vehicle and consult your dealer or trusted mechanic. I would never wish any type of serious injury on anyone, but to be realistic data reveals that defective jacks can lead to all kinds of injuries from amputations, disfigurements and unfortunately death. If it doesn't feel solid and secure, double-check your setup and perhaps jack the car back up to reset everything. The recall is only for stands that are 3-Ton and 6-Ton with item numbers 61196, 61197 and 56371. Quality vehicle ramps are also a safe, sturdy, and less expensive alternative for raising two or four wheels off the ground for certain repairs, and they're fast and convenient when used properly. ; Wayne County including Detroit; Oakland County including Southfield; Barry County including Hastings; Cheboygan County including Cheboygan; Muskegon County including Muskegon and Norton Shores; Suffolk County including Boston; Norfolk County including Canton; Los Angeles County including Los Angeles; Orange County including Huntington Beach; and New York City including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. (View the PDF of the recall document here for more details.) Call another store that's close and ask for the district managers # . According to the 2019 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) Data Highlights, there were an estimated 16,433 injuries related to hoists, lifts, and jacks. As always, carefully read the manualfor your vehicle, for your floor jack, and for your jack standsbefore starting. Customers can verify which jack stands fall under the expanded recall here. The NHTSA also has reported 74,000 are injured by a falling vehicle or vehicle part after reading an article from Forbes Magazine on the most common car-related injuries. Make sure they're set to the same height on both sides. Report: NFL May Ask Fans to Sign Liability Waivers to Attend Games amid Pandemic, NFL Teams Preparing for Ticket-Focused Headaches. The exchange process is as simple as bringing your affected jack stands to your local Harbor Freight, once stores are reopened, where you'll be reimbursed for them with a store gift card for the current shelf price of comparable models. Lose his job by attempting a return? I highly recommend them! They applied some paint to the pawl of a unit in question and let it transfer onto the teeth of the jack stand, which gives a sense of exactly how little the pawl is meshing with the teeth. We don't recommend using the jack that came with your vehicle, usually a scissor or bottle jack, for regular maintenance. According to an article in the USA Today, the recall notice that is posted on the retailers website says this sudden drop can cause serious injury for people near or under a lifted vehicle. Now, also per The Drive, Harbor Freight is recalling some three-ton jack stands that some customers purchased as replacements for the previously recalled items. Dedicated to serving your needs. It's also not a bad idea to let someone know you'll be under the car, or have a phone handy. Harbor Freight recently recalled 454,000 Pittsburg Automotive jack stands and is asking all their consumers who purchased these stands to stop using them immediately. I hate that some hf managers go on power trips when we are always told to do right for the customer. Our attorneys remain committed to providing our existing clients uninterrupted legal services, as well as evaluating new claims. He's being a lazy dickbag. Lastly, check the lifting dimensionswill the jack lift enough to get the jack stands underneath? The affected Pittsburgh-brand three- and six-ton jack stands were in production for six years, and span three separate model numbers. When the jack stands are carrying weight, the latch mechanism can release if the stand is bumped in the right place with a trivial amount of force. The new product is now subject to a different recall because many of the units are suffering from a welding defect. Whenever possible, a flat, hard, level surface-like a concrete garage flooris by far the best surface to lift a vehicle from. You'll need a jack and at least two jack stands to work under your vehicle. Depending on when it was manufactured and the specific model, jack stands might beweight rated individually or as a pair. On Thursday, NHTSA urged owners of the jack stands to "immediately discontinue use due to safety concerns." We've heard of tragic instances where a person, pinned by a vehicle, would have survived if help came in time. If we have fraudulent returns, yeah. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Make sure no one is under the vehicle, and it won't contact anything coming down. I returned a non-recalled model without a receipt, but they were able to look it up by my phone number and gave me store credit. If your vehicle weighs 5,500 pounds, choose 3-ton jack stands (or more) rather than 2-ton. Determine your vehicle's curb weight (it's generally in the owner's manual) and pick jack stands with a similar rating. Before getting underneath, think about what might happen if a jack stand (or the jacking point) fails or shifts, dropping the vehicle. The July 2020 recall affects more than 450,000 Pittsburgh Automotive 6 Ton Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Have they released the 6 ton replacements yet? The information is necessary for a conflict-of-interest check that we must perform prior to responding to you. But first, let's take a look at the issues facing those particular Harbor Freight jack stands so you have an idea of why this is all so troubling. I'm an employee at hf and that's bs he didn't take it back. Ended up having to pack them back in the car and take them home because the store manager would not even scan them to see if they could be returned. Would not answer when I asked him what part of the page was confusing. No he did not even try to look it up, even though I told him purchased them at his store. She has also been overly satisfied with this firm. Getting bad vibes? The company's tools and parts make car repairs and modifications possible for many enthusiasts on limited budgets, especially when it pertains to things like jacks and jack stands. Is there an actual problem with those jack stands? See below: If you have jack stands from Harbor Freight, please take a minute before reading on to see if they're affected by the recall. Or if we're idiot's and we keep taking back returns for stuff we definitely shouldn't (things outside of the return period without replacement plans), then maybebut that manager was just wrong. We were told that, even though the 6 ton jacks weren't technically part of the safety recall to take them back because they were being redesigned. It's not recommended to use only one jack stand to support a portion of the vehicle, nor to use two sets to support both ends of the vehicle at the same time (although raising both ends and supporting them with jack stands is common, in practice). Odds are good that you or someone you know has a set of these lurking in the garage. For reference, the same user took a photo of an older Harbor Freight jack stand that's not involved in the recall, using the same technique. Was told by the store manager that he would lose his job if he accepted the return because they were not recalled models. This information is strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone. Once the vehicle is chocked, the jack is located safely, and the vehicle is lifted, it's time to place the jack stands at the indicated points. With nearly 2 million units in question, the odds are good that you or someone you know owns a set of these, so please go and check them now and urge your family and friends to do so, too. the PDF of the recall document here for more details. Slowly release the jack to settle the vehicle onto the jack stands. I also referred my friend to Neumann Law Group regarding a medical malpractice matter. Press J to jump to the feed. If you or someone you know was seriously injured by any recalled product please contact HMG Law Firm online or at 361-882-1612 to schedule a free consultation. COVID-19 Update: Neumann Law Group is open for regular business and is accepting new clients. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety recall report, Harbor Freight will notify the owners about the recall notice. Update: More apparent trouble with Harbor Freight jack stands, according to the owner of a replacement set for his recalled units, as reported byThe Drive. But the best option is a hard, level surface. Also remember that jack stands are intended to be used in pairs, which partially explains the shared weight rating. The company is specifically recalling 1.7 million units with model numbers 56371, 61196 and 61197. Don't make assumptions; consult the manual. A soft surface could cause the jack stands to shift, potentially dropping the vehicle. According to Harbor Freight's NHTSA filing, the problem with these jack stands is that due to worn tooling at the factory, the pawl that engages with the toothed height-adjustable part of the stand doesn't do so sufficiently to reliably lock it in place. There are products called jack stabilizer pads that can be used to support a jack or jack stand. Please tell us who you are and how we can contact you. The larger paint mark means the pawl grabbed a lot more of the tooth. Owners are asked to discontinue use of the recalled jack stands immediately. As the vehicle settles, make sure the jack stands stay vertical and make good contact with the jack points. It's the latter of those two that has come back to bite us in the ass, however, because Harbor Freight is now recalling its Pittsburgh-brand six-ton jack stands over risks that they could collapse during use, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF) from March 20, a dangerous fault first reported on by The Drive on May 19. Manager did not think so. Get out, or better yet, don't get under in the first place. I am guessing he thought the first bullet point (receipt not required) applies to only the red items. You can always raise them more later. TLDR: Return denied, had to lug them home. Is the best way to use the "Contact Us" form on the website? Fields marked with * are for required information. Harbor Freight's recall covers some 3-ton and 6-ton "Pittsburgh" brand jack stands with item numbers 56371, 61196, and 61197. I purchased some other jack stands that utilize a locking pin, they are impossible to drop by accident like these HF stands. If you need to lift both ends of the vehicle, there are other devices, such as the QuickJack hydraulic scissor jack (shown above), that are a safer (albeit more expensive) solution. Call corporate. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. I have two air body files that don't work that I can't take back because they don't carry them any more. Our attorneys are available, either by telephone or video conference, to answer your questions. Said he might lose his job just by attempting the return. Apparently, the units that fall under the new recall also suffer from inadequate welds that can fail. For a free, no obligation consultation with an experienced attorney at Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP, regarding your case, please fill out the form above. The company replaced the stands with a different product. Applicable sales tax will also be refunded, All items indicated in RED are recalled in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), All other items can be returned at the customer's discretion. filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Idk why this store manager didn't. Before starting, make sure you've got the right equipment for the job. Manager said the models in black must be returned with a receipt within the standard return window like every other product. Finally got around to return a pair of 6-ton jack stands (item number 62393) and a pair of 12-ton jack stands (item number 34924) to the closest Harbor Freight store to me which is about an hour away. Place two behind the wheels of the end you are not lifting up. Likewise, make sure your lifting device is up to the job. Watch carefully, because the vehicle may come down at a slight angle, and you may have to move the jack stands slightly before the vehicle rests on them so they are lined up properly. Hahaha getting fired for returning a tool what a BS. A bump or a knock could cause the pawl to disengage, dropping the vehicle suddenly. Your life isn't worth taking a shortcut or using questionable equipment. In many circumstances, these might be safer and quicker alternatives to the floor jack and jack stand method, provided you're not working on projects that require the wheels to come off. Harbor Freight toldThe Drive that the company is investigating the issue.