December 10, 2025 – A consumer operating a Ryobi 18V battery-powered blower reported a dangerous incident where the device’s internal fan blades violently shredded shortly after activation. The malfunction resulted in pieces of the fan blades being ejected from the sides of the blower, striking the user’s legs and raising significant safety concerns regarding potential injuries and product integrity.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On November 24, 2025, a consumer activated a recently purchased Ryobi 18V battery-powered blower, Model P21081VNM, which was acquired from Home Depot. Upon turning the blower on, the user immediately heard a sound described as “like a rock being struck by a lawnmower.” This was quickly followed by the fan blades within the unit shredding. Pieces of the disintegrated fan blades were then forcefully propelled out of the sides of the blower, hitting the user’s legs. The consumer noted they were fortunate not to be wearing shorts at the time, indicating the potential for more severe injury. Thankfully, the only reported damage was to the blower itself.
Safety Concerns
The incident involving the Ryobi 18V battery-powered blower highlights several critical safety concerns:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is the high-velocity ejection of sharp, broken fan blade fragments. These projectiles can cause severe lacerations, contusions, punctures, or eye injuries to the operator or any bystanders in the vicinity. The report specifically mentioned pieces hitting the user’s legs, emphasizing the risk of direct impact injuries.
- Long-Term Risks: Depending on the force and nature of impact, such injuries could lead to nerve damage, significant scarring, infection, or require medical intervention like stitches or surgery. Eye injuries, especially from fast-moving debris, can result in permanent vision impairment or blindness.
- Who Might Be Affected: Operators of the blower are directly at risk. Additionally, children, pets, or other individuals nearby could be struck by flying debris, particularly given the unpredictability of where shredded pieces might be ejected.
- Property Damage Potential: While the incident reported no property damage beyond the blower itself, high-speed projectiles could potentially damage nearby vehicles, windows, outdoor furniture, or other fragile items.
This type of malfunction indicates a potential defect in the material strength, design, or manufacturing process of the fan blades, or an internal obstruction that could lead to catastrophic failure during normal operation.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Ryobi 18V battery-powered blower, especially model P21081VNM, should take the following precautions:
- Immediate Steps: If your blower exhibits any unusual noises, vibrations, or shows signs of internal damage, cease use immediately. Do not attempt to repair the unit yourself.
- Check Your Product: Verify if you own the Ryobi 18V battery-powered blower, Model P21081VNM.
- Prevention Measures: Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when operating power tools, including safety glasses or goggles, long pants, and sturdy footwear. While PPE cannot prevent all incidents, it can significantly mitigate the severity of potential injuries.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience a similar incident or discover a potential defect, report it to the manufacturer, One World Technologies, Inc., and to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. Providing detailed information helps authorities identify patterns and assess the need for further action.
Manufacturer’s Response
As of the date of this report, the manufacturer’s response to this specific incident is unknown. We encourage consumers to reach out to One World Technologies, Inc. directly for further information or assistance if they own the affected product.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.