Here is the recall article-
O.K., here's the article itself from the greenindustrypros.com link.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall alert for the SnoThro 30LE Deluxe Snow Thrower from Ariens Company. Users trying to clear the collector or discharge chute while the machine is operating could be at risk of a finger or hand injury hazard, although no injuries had been reported as of the time the recall was announced.
The recall affects roughly 1,040 units. Ariens Company has fixed about 600 of these units prior to their sale.
The model number is 921020 and serial numbers range from 000101 to 001229 and are located on a label at the rear of the unit next to the right tire. The Ariens logo is placed on the front of the control panel.
These units are sold at Home Depot and local Ariens authorized dealerships from October 2009 to January 2010 for about $1,500.
For more information, contact Ariens Company toll free at (888) 927-4367 between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
Reading it, and other articles on the internet when searching for more information, there have been no injuries at this time, and it says about 600 of some 1,040 units were fixed by Ariens prior to their sale.
This, to me, indicates there may have been an issue with that particular model, #921020, that isn't necessarily related to a consumer's action. I've yet to find any mention of the specific issue, or what the fix was. I did call the 888 number, and was told by the representative of the Ariens company that answered, that these were machines that were available last year and that any of those models left on dealer's floors will have had the repair, which as she said, was a matter of changing out the auger belts.
So, without getting into too much of a big brother discussion, which is easy to do, let's ask if any members have that Ariens model 921020 in the serial number range mentioned, and if so, have you had the recall repair done?