About the Recalled Products
The recall covers Powerworks and Greenworks brand pressure washer spray guns distributed by Hongkong Sun Rise Trading Ltd. of China, including the following Powerworks models: PWA101 and PWA104. Greenworks models GPW1500, GPW1501, GPW1600, GPW1602, GPW1702, GPW1704, GPW1800, GPW1803, and plastic gun accessory kit model 5202002 are also included in the recall.
Approximately 1.06 million units were sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide, on Amazon.com, and through other online retailers from January 2017 through February 2021, with pressure washers priced between $100 and $180 and the standalone plastic gun kit sold for approximately $40.
Latest Updates
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on April 7, 2021, stating that the spray gun connector can break during use, causing the hose and/or parts of the connector to become dislodged and strike users with force [1]. Fifteen connector breakages and 13 injuries were reported, with seven of those requiring medical treatment [2].
How the Defect Causes Injury
Pressure washers operate by forcing water through a narrow nozzle at extremely high velocity — typically 1,500 to 2,000 PSI in the recalled models. When the plastic connector at the spray gun fractures under that pressure, the hose detaches and whips violently, and broken connector pieces become fast-moving projectiles directed at whoever is holding the gun.
Unlike a garden hose failure, a pressure washer hose detaching under load delivers impacts with enough force to break bones and cause concussive head injuries. Users are typically standing close to the spray gun during operation, leaving no time to react when the connector gives way.
Documented Injuries
Thirteen people were injured before the recall was announced, with seven requiring medical care. Documented injuries include broken bones, concussions, facial trauma, broken eyeglasses, chest injuries, and leg and foot injuries severe enough to require a walking boot and cause missed work.
The range of injury types — from foot fractures to concussions to facial strikes — reflects how unpredictably the dislodged hose and connector pieces traveled when the connector failed. Injuries to the face and head carry particular long-term consequences including vision damage, post-concussion syndrome, and scarring.
Four Years of Sales Before the Recall
The recalled units were sold continuously from January 2017 through February 2021 — a span of more than four years. Fifteen connector failures were reported during that period, meaning Hongkong Sun Rise Trading and its retail partners had accumulating evidence of the defect long before federal regulators intervened.
Lowe’s served as the primary brick-and-mortar retailer for the recalled products throughout that window. In product liability cases, retailers who are aware of or should have detected defect patterns through warranty claims, return data, or customer complaints may bear liability alongside the product’s manufacturer and distributor.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
If you were injured when a Powerworks or Greenworks pressure washer spray gun connector broke or hose detached during use, you may have a product liability claim regardless of whether you previously registered for the recall remedy. Contact an attorney promptly, as state filing deadlines apply.
What to Do Now
Stop using any recalled Powerworks or Greenworks spray gun immediately. Contact Hongkong Sun Rise Trading at 833-211-9185 (Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET; Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET) or visit greenworkstools.com to request a free replacement spray gun handle.
References
1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/One-Million-Greenworks-and-Powerworks-Pressure-Washer-Spray-Guns-Recalled-Due-to-Impact-Injury-Hazard-Distributed-by-Hongkong-Sun-Rise-Trading
2. https://www.aboutlawsuits.com/lowes-pressure-washer-recall-182633/
3. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/one-million-greenworks-and-powerworks-pressure-washer-spray-guns-recalled-due-to-impact-injury-hazard-distributed-by-hongkong-sun-rise-trading-301264424.html