Fort Defiance P2131 Sterilizer Recall: Electrical Grounding Risk
Fort Defiance Industries recalls P213: Automated Field Steam Sterilizers with improper electrical grounding. Affected units may cause electric shock if mishandled.
Use caution until it’s fixed
The rear heater plate and cover assembly that contains the electrical wiring for the heaters does not have sufficient bonding to ground.
Contact the company
What happened, in plain English
Fort Defiance Industries is recalling P2131 Automated Field Steam Sterilizers due to a potential electrical grounding issue. This could lead to electric shock if the device is mishandled or improperly installed. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/61925-fort-defiance-p2131-sterilizer-recall-electrical-grounding-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/61925-fort-defiance-p2131-sterilizer-recall-electrical-grounding-risk · Updated August 19, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #Z-0121-2022
Cite this page
“Fort Defiance P2131 Sterilizer Recall: Electrical Grounding Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated August 19, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/61925-fort-defiance-p2131-sterilizer-recall-electrical-grounding-risk. Based on FDA recall #Z-0121-2022 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-0121-2022%22&limit=1).
Why it’s dangerous
The rear heater plate and cover assembly lacks sufficient bonding to ground the electrical wiring. This could cause electric shock if the device is mishandled or improperly installed, especially in environments with high moisture or electrical interference.
Who’s affected
Users of the P2131 sterilizers, particularly those in medical or field settings where the device is used frequently. Individuals handling the equipment without proper grounding precautions are at higher risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for the model number P2131 and serial numbers AFS-0001 through AFS-0386 (excluding AFS-0297, which was not manufactured). The device is sold under the NSN 6530-01-641-4641.
- Brand
Fort Defiance- Category
Medical device
What to do — step by step
Check Device Serial Number
Look for the serial numbers AFS-0001 through AFS-0386 on the device label.
Stop Using if Unsafe
If the device has a serial number in the affected range, stop using it immediately until a safe fix is implemented.
Where it went and when
Where it was distributed
Distributed nationwide and abroad; the notice names 8 states.
FDA distribution: “Distributed nationwide to PA, MD, TX, NJ, OH, TN, UT, VA and internationally to Canada.” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.
Named in the notice: Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia.
Recall timeline
FDA published this recall 2 months after the firm started it.
- Firm started the recall
- FDA classified it Class II
- Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: FDA Recall #Z-0121-2022 (August 19, 2021) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-0121-2022 to see it in context.
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 19, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.