Automotive Tools Or Accessories
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Communication & Entertainment · CPSC Code 821
Down 33% over 5 years
The verdict
Automotive Tools Or Accessories carry a danger score of 33/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 2,711 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 33% over the last five years.
- 33/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 2,711
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 3.9%
- end in hospital admission
- 35-44
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 821 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 33/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for automotive tools or accessories - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume2,711 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)3.9%
- Fatality rate0.05%
- 5-year trend-33%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Automotive Tools Or Accessories (CPSC product code 821, in the Home Communication & Entertainment category) generate an estimated 2,711 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 54,224 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 33/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 33% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2016 (3,812 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2005 (1,146 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for automotive tools or accessories is laceration to the face, accounting for approximately 4,019 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the finger (3,227 cases). The 35-44 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 11,305 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 3.9% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.05%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 51 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how automotive tools or accessories fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,193 | 456 | |
| 5-14 | 1,360 | 652 | |
| 15-24 | 7,287 | 1,564 | |
| 25-34 | 9,469 | 1,691 | |
| 35-44 | 9,439 | 1,866 | |
| 45-54 | 6,585 | 1,002 | |
| 55-64 | 4,372 | 1,311 | |
| 65-74 | 4,016 | 477 | |
| 75+ | 1,194 | 291 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Laceration | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Mouth | Laceration | |
| Finger | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Finger | Fracture | |
| Foot | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Fracture | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
58 YOM-AT HOME-DROPPED AN AXLE SHAFT ON HIS SHIN DX: LOWER LEG LACERATION
44YOM FOR EVAL OF L SHOULD INJURY SUSTAINED WHWEN HE WAS PULLING UP ON TIRE IRON TO LOOSEN LUG NUTS & FELT IMMEDIATE PAIN & POP POSTEROLATERAL SHOULDER. NOW FEELS LIKE SHOULDER IN UNSTABLE & ROM LIMITED. DX: INJURY OF LEFT SHOULDER
39YOM PRESENTS TOE D FOR NOSE PAIN. PT WAS CHANGING TIRE W/ BRAND-NEW TIRE IRON. IRON SLIPPED AND LANDED ON NOSE. BLEEDING AT HIS NOSE BUT NO BLEEDING FROM NARES AFTER. DX: LACERATION NOSE
71YOM PRESENTS FOR EVAL OF HEAD INJURY. AT ABOUT 1PM HE ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK HIMSELF IN THE FACE WITH A BREAKER BAR WHIL ATTEMPTING TO LOOSEN A RUSTY BOLT. SUSTAINED LACERATION ABOVE L EYEBROW. NO LOC. DX: SUBDURAL HEMATOMA; FOREHEAD LACERATION
13 YOF HAD A CAR RAMP FALL ON RIGHT FOOT.DX: CONTUSION RIGHT FOOT.
41YOF COMPLAINS OF RIGHT KNEE PAIN X 1 MONTH AFTER WALKING UP AND DOWN A MOVING TRUCK RAMP. HISTORY OF ANKLE SURGERY LAST AUGUST. DX: ARTHRALGIA OF RIGHT KNEE, OVERUSE SYNDROME
34YOM, USING JUMPER CABLES GRAB ENDS BURNED RIGHT HAND 2ND FINGER DX: RIGHT HAND 2ND FINGER 2ND DEGREE BURN
^75YOM WAS WORKING ON HIS CAR AND HAS LEFT HIP PROTHESIS WHEN HE BENT DOWN TO GET A TOOL IT POPPED OUT OF PLACE DX:DISLOCATION HIP PROTHESIS
^67YOM PATIENT WAS TRYING TO MANEUVER A FOUR WHEELER ON A RAMP TO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK, THE FOUR WHEELER APPARENTLY STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS AND HAD HIM FALL TO THE GROUND, CHEST WALL PAIN DX: CLOSED FRACTURE OF MULTIPLE RIBS OF RIGHT SIDE, CHEST WALL PAIN, ACUTE PAIN OF RIGHT SHOULDER
76YOF C/O CLOSED FRACTURE OR 11TH THORACIC VERTEBRA WITH ABRASIONS ON SHINS S/P PT WAS ON A RAMP ATTACHED TO A DELIVERY *** TRUCK WHEN SHE DROPPED TO HER SHINGS THEN FELL BACKWARDS. DX: CLOSED FRACTURE OR 11TH THORACIC VERTEBRA; ABRASIONS OF LOWER BILATERAL LEGS
24 YOM WAS AT HOME WORKING ON A CAR JACKED UP WHEN THE CAR FELL OFF THE JACK ONTO HIS FINGERS. DX: FRACTURE RIGHT INDEX FINGER, CONTUSION RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER, CONTUSION RIGHT RING FINGER, LACERATION RIGHT INDEX FINGER
^69YOM PT TRIPPED OVER A TRUCK RAMP & TWISTED ANKLE, FELL ONTO LEFT SHOULDER DX: FALL, RT ANKLE FRACTURE
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
A resident had a Whistler Jump and Go jump pack plugged in, in his kitchen which caught fire. Product number WJS-3000. He was able to extinguish the fire with his kitchen sink hose.
Was trying to jump start a car and the battery got hot swelled and the case came apart, making the item not usable.
The caller stated that while driving he smelled smoke, he pulled off the road and noticed that the fire smoke was coming from where the jump start equipment was located. At this time, the jump start equipment had already burnt a hole into the rear seat. The flames dispersed towards the driver's seat. However, he was unable to contain the fire. He did not have any water or extinguisher. The jump start equipment was in the vehicle for over 6 weeks. He was able to ask someone to contact the fire dept but by the time they arrived the vehicle was consumed in flames. There is a fire report. The manufacturer was not contacted because the equpment was made in China. The caller feels that this jump start equipment is a fire hazard and should be reported.
Caller stated that she experienced similar problems of Release #08-134. Hazard: The booster cables clamps were assembled incorrectly resulting in reverse polarity. This poses an electrical shock and explosion hazard to consumers. The cables was plugged in for a few seconds and it started smoking and melting. A hand towel had to be used to pull the cables off because of the heat. (6/20/14)Caller attempted to contact the manufacturer but the contact number is no longer in service. Caller feels that the manufacturer is still selling these defective cables that should be recalled.
Purchased Whistler "Jump & Go" from Blizzard, LLC. on Amazon.com on 9/1/2016. After receiving the product, I plugged it in to charge. The device immediately started beeping non-stop; indicating a product malfunction. When doing researching trouble shooting advice online, I discovered the open recall on this product (15-123) posted here, and confirmed this device is impacted by the recall. The model number is WJS-3000 and the manufacture date imprinted is "201436" which is clearly within the range indicated in the recall notice (201404 to 201439). I have requested a refund and return authorization from Amazon.com.
I have a pocket jump starter approx. 2 years old used less than 5 times that the battery swelled up and busted the case while charging . I was home and removed from outlet before further damage from being done
I was charging pocket jump starter model ZT50400after less than 5 minutes on charge it literally swelled up and busted apart and was smoking and very warm. I received this as a gift and approx. 2 years ago and this was the first time using it and charging it. Also I have spoken to several people that have the same model purchased thru snap-on tools and they have had the same problem
The battery in my jump and go has begun to swell and heat up.
Showing 8 of 51 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to automotive tools or accessories on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are automotive tools or accessories?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, automotive tools or accessories have a danger score of 33/100 (low risk). An estimated 2,711 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from automotive tools or accessories?
The most common injury is laceration to the face, accounting for approximately 4,019 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from automotive tools or accessories increasing or decreasing?
Down 33% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for automotive tools or accessories injuries?
The 35-44 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 11,305 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by automotive tools or accessories?
Of all ER visits involving automotive tools or accessories, approximately 3.9% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (96.1%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with automotive tools or accessories?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Communication & Entertainment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 33/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 35-44 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
