Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. is recalling more than 90,000 battery-powered chainsaws after receiving reports that a critical safety feature failed to work properly. In one incident, a user was left with a lacerated finger.
The affected products—model 2826-20 M18 FUEL Top Handle Chainsaws equipped with either 12-inch or 14-inch bars—contain a potentially defective chain brake that could fail to stop the chain's movement when engaged, creating a serious laceration risk for anyone using the machine.
Approximately 83,360 units were distributed across the United States, while another 7,500 were sold in Canada.
Milwaukee Tool has documented two instances where the chainsaw's safety mechanism failed to prevent chain movement, one of which resulted in a finger laceration.
Home improvement retailers, including Home Depot, carried the recalled chainsaws both in stores and online from March 2023 through September 2024. The tool sold for approximately $350 as a standalone unit or roughly $790 when packaged with two M18 batteries and a charger.
Owners can identify whether their chainsaw is part of the recall by looking at the product's serial number, which appears on the upper left portion of the nameplate, Milwaukee Tool said in a press release issued Oct. 29.
Units with the letter "A" as the fourth character in the serial number are affected by the recall. The catalog number 2826-20 can be found on the nameplate's upper right section.
Milwaukee Tool is urging consumers to stop using the affected chainsaws immediately and contact the company to arrange a free repair. Owners should register their product through the company's eService portal to receive a prepaid shipping label for returning the chainsaw for repair.
Customers can reach Milwaukee Tool at 833-953-2012 between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. Additional information is available through the company's eService portal or on Milwaukee Tool's website under the 2025 press releases tab.
Founded in 1924, Milwaukee Tool manufactures professional-grade power tools and equipment for the construction trades, according to information about the company found on its website. The company operates as a subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. and is headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin.