Skip to main content

< Back to Search Result
Share X Facebook Copy Link
Incident Report Details
Attachments (0)
Report Summary

Consumer reports that the multimeters have leads that are of poor quality. The insulation fails where the wire enters the plug-in connectors to the meter. When this occurs, live wires are exposed. Consumer states that this is possibly lethal if the bare conductor is touched.

Product Details
  • Product Description: Harbor Freight Multimeter Item #98025 Retailer: Harbor Freight CT, FL, and many others
  • Manufacturer/Importer/Private Labeler Name: Harbor Freight Tools
  • Brand Name: Harbor Freight
  • Model Name or Number: Multimeter Item #98025 and others
  • Serial Number:
  • UPC Code:
  • SKU#:
  • Date Manufactured:
  • Retailer:
  • Retailer State:
  • Purchase Date:
  • Product Category: Home Maintenance and Structures
  • Product Type: Tools & Hardware
  • Product Code: Electrical Testing Equipment (815)
Associated Recall
Incident Details
  • Incident Description: Name: [REDACTED] Organization / Affiliation: Home Daytime Phone: [REDACTED] E-mail address: [REDACTED] Your Message: As of today 12/7/20 I am puzzled by why I have received no acknowledgement to my letter of 9/25/20 (copy follows) regarding the hazardous and potentially lethal problem with the leads used on a multimeter made in China and sold nationally by Harbor Freight Co. Is this of any concern? Letter sent by regular mail: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Phone/Fax: [REDACTED] email [REDACTED] Consumer Product Safety Commission Clearing House 4330 East West Hwy. Bethesda, MD 20814 September 25, 2020 Subject: Harbor Freight Product Dangers with Multimeter Product Item #98025 and others I have written and sent several samples of a product, potentially Lethally dangerous, to the above company. So far I have “zero” replies to my letters. A copy of my latest letter is enclosed. The meters are tiny, nice and quite accurate, but the leads are of very poor quality and the insulation fails where the wire enters the plug-in connectors to the meter. When this occurs “live” wires are exposed. I tend to use these meters in low voltage situations but they are rated fo use up to 750 volts AC and 1000 volts DC. This is a potentially lethal situation if the bare conductor gets touched. I think Harbor Freight should be counciled about this problem. Sincerely, [REDACTED] No victims yet
  • Incident Date: 9/25/2020
  • Incident Location: Unspecified
Victims Involved
  • Injury Information: Incident, No Injury
  • My Relationship to the Victim: Self
  • Gender: Unspecified
  • Victim's Age When Incident Occurred:
Comments from the Manufacturer/Private Labeler
Additional Details
  • Submitter has product?:
  • Product was damaged before incident?: No
  • Product was modified before incident?: No
  • If yes to any, explanation: Meter but not leads. Leads were returned with my letter. Yes several times. Because I've had no response I've contacted you.
  • Have you contacted the manufacturer?: Yes
  • If Not, Do you plan to?:
  • Report Number: 20201208-1CF70-2039610
  • Report Date: 12/8/2020
  • Sent to Manufacturer/Importer/Private Labeler: 2/11/2021
  • Report First Publication Date: 2/26/2021
  • Category of Submitter: Consumer