Biometric Gun Safe Recall: Awesafe, Bulldog, Machir and What to Do
The biometric gun safe recall most owners are searching for is the February 22, 2024 action by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It covered fingerprint safes sold under the Awesafe, Bulldog, Machir and BBRKIN (MouTec) names because their biometric locks could fail and let unauthorized people open them, children included. If you own one of these safes, stop using the fingerprint reader today. Take out the batteries, keep the safe locked with its key only, and contact the company for the free remedy listed on the CPSC recalls site. This guide lists what each notice says, how to tell whether your safe is affected, what to do while you wait for a fix, and what to look for in a replacement.
Which biometric gun safes were recalled?
Every recall below shares one hazard. The CPSC says the biometric lock can fail, so the safe opens for someone whose fingerprint was never registered. That defeats the main reason to buy a quick-access safe: keeping a handgun away from children and other unauthorized people while it stays reachable for the owner. The details below are summarized from each CPSC notice. Model numbers and remedies can change, so open the linked notice for the current version before you act.
Awesafe recall
The Awesafe biometric gun safe recall (CPSC recall 24-127) covers about 60,000 safes sold at Walmart and on Amazon. The affected safes are black, hold two pistols and have the Awesafe name on the front. The firm had received 71 reports of unauthorized openings when the notice was issued. CPSC tells owners to stop using the fingerprint feature, remove the batteries and lock the safe with the key only. To get a free replacement, owners disable the biometric reader as the firm instructs and email a photo to the company. Awesafe is the largest single brand in the February 2024 group, so it is worth checking even if you bought your safe as a gift or second-hand.
Bulldog gun safe recall
The Bulldog Cases biometric safe recall (recall 24-130) covers about 33,500 units. The affected models are the Magnum Biometric Pistol Vault (BD4030B), the Pistol Vault with Shelf (BD4040B) and the Top Load Pistol Vault (BD4055B). The model number is on a silver sticker on the back right corner, and the Bulldog name is on the front. CPSC lists sales at Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, firearm stores and Amazon from July 2016 through January 2024, so some of these safes have been in homes for years. The notice describes a repair kit for some models and a replacement for others. Bulldog sells many non-biometric cases and vaults, and the recall applies only to the biometric models named in the notice.
Machir recall
The Machir biometric personal safe recall (recall 24-129) covers biometric personal safes sold at Walmart and on Machir’s own website. The firm had 15 reports of unauthorized openings when the notice was issued. Owners are told to stop using the biometric lock, remove the batteries and use only the key. The free replacement requires you to disable the reader following Machir’s recall instructions and send a photo as proof. Follow the firm’s own steps rather than improvising. The photo is how the company confirms the old reader is out of service.
BBRKIN and MouTec recall
The fourth notice in the February 2024 group, recall 24-128, covers about 2,200 biometric gun safes sold only on Amazon by BBRKIN, which also used the MouTec name. The model is QCJJ01, sold from September 2021 through February 2023, with serial numbers SQC202121000 through SQC202247603. The firm received one report of an unauthorized opening, by a 6-year-old boy. The remedy is a repair kit or a free replacement after you disable the reader and email a photo. If you search for a “MouTec recall”, check the model and serial number on the back or bottom of your safe against this notice. Search cpsc.gov for the brand as well, because a later notice could cover a different model.
Recall comparison table
| Brand | CPSC number | Approx. units | Where it was sold | How to identify | Remedy (per notice) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awesafe | 24-127 | About 60,000 | Walmart, Amazon | Black, two-pistol size, Awesafe name on front | Free replacement after disabling the reader and sending a photo |
| Bulldog | 24-130 | About 33,500 | Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, firearm stores, Amazon | BD4030B, BD4040B, BD4055B; silver label on back right corner | Repair kit or replacement, depending on model |
| Machir | 24-129 | See notice | Walmart, Machir.com | Machir biometric personal safes listed in the notice | Free replacement after disabling the reader and sending a photo |
| BBRKIN / MouTec | 24-128 | About 2,200 | Amazon only | Model QCJJ01, serials SQC202121000 to SQC202247603 | Repair kit or free replacement |
All four notices were announced on February 22, 2024. Contact details are in each notice. Use those rather than a phone number or email from a forum post, which may be out of date.
Other CPSC actions on biometric gun safes
The February 2024 group was not the only one. Owners of other fingerprint safes should check these notices too:
- Fortress: the Fortress Safe recall covers about 61,000 biometric gun safes because the biometric programming feature can allow unauthorized access. The notice title reports one death.
- Sports Afield and Sanctuary: SA Consumer Products issued a recall of Sanctuary Quick Access and Sports Afield biometric gun safes for the same kind of hazard. A CPSC commissioner’s statement put the total at about 133,000 safes.
- Stack-On: this one is a warning, not a recall. In January 2025 CPSC urged consumers to stop using the biometric feature on Stack-On biometric gun safes, saying the company had refused to agree to an acceptable recall.
- Owsoo and Cacagoo: in 2024 CPSC urged owners to stop using and disable the biometric feature on these Amazon-sold safes.
Watch: KSAT 12 news coverage of the Fortress action, reported as 61,000 gun safes recalled after a boy’s death.
What to do if your biometric safe is on a recall list
The CPSC instructions are similar across these notices. Here they are as a checklist, with some general safe-storage habits added:
- Stop using the fingerprint reader now. Don’t wait to see whether your unit is one of the safes that failed. The hazard is that you can’t tell from the outside.
- Remove the batteries. The notices tell owners to do this so the electronic lock can’t be used. Keep the safe closed and locked with its mechanical key.
- Control the key. A key-only safe is only as secure as the key. Keep it on your person or in a separate locked location, never in a drawer next to the safe or on a hook a child can reach.
- Find your model and serial number. Photograph the label so you have it ready for the claim. Bulldog’s label is on the back right corner. Check the back and bottom on other brands.
- Use the official remedy. Contact the firm through the details in the CPSC notice. Where the remedy asks you to disable the reader and send a photo, follow the firm’s instructions exactly.
- Use other secure storage in the meantime. If you can’t keep the key under control, keep the firearm unloaded and stored with a separate locking device, or in another safe, until the remedy arrives.
- Don’t sell or give away a recalled safe. Passing it on moves the risk to another household. If you replace it, follow the firm’s disposal or return steps.
How to check whether your gun safe is recalled
A general “gun safe recall” search brings up many brands, and the names on cheaper Amazon listings can differ from the name printed on the safe. Here is a reliable way to check:
- Read the brand name on the safe itself and the model number on its label, not just the name on your order history.
- Search that brand and model on cpsc.gov/Recalls. Also search “biometric gun safe” to catch notices that list several brand names.
- If you are in Canada, check Health Canada’s recall listings too. Some of these safes were sold in both countries.
- Check the manufacturer’s own website for a safety notice or recall page.
- Recheck once in a while. New notices have appeared in waves since 2023, and a safe that wasn’t listed last year could be listed now.
Why fingerprint readers on these safes failed
The notices describe the result, not the engineering. The biometric lock could accept fingerprints that were never enrolled. The Fortress and Stack-On notices point to the biometric programming feature, the step where the owner registers fingerprints. In plain terms, a reader that should reject an unknown print instead let it through. A child pressing on the sensor could open the safe as easily as the owner.
This does not mean every fingerprint safe is unsafe. It means a biometric reader is only as trustworthy as the firmware and enrollment process behind it. When you shop, favor brands with a clear support channel and a backup entry method you control. After setup, confirm that an unregistered finger is rejected. Our explainer on whether biometric gun safes are reliable covers what affects reader accuracy day to day. The biometric vs keypad comparison explains when a code is the better primary lock.
Choosing a replacement after a biometric safe recall
If you’d rather replace a recalled safe than wait for a repair kit, use this checklist. It is drawn from general safe-storage practice, not from any recall notice:
- More than one way in. Look for a fingerprint reader plus a keypad and a mechanical backup key, so you’re never stuck if one method fails.
- A recall search before you buy. Put the exact brand and model into cpsc.gov first. It takes a minute.
- A post-setup check. After you enroll your prints, have an unregistered person try the reader. If it opens, stop using the biometric lock and contact the maker.
- Mounting. A small safe that isn’t bolted down or cabled can be carried off. Our guide on how to bolt down a gun safe covers placement.
- Power you can plan for. Know the battery type, where the low-battery warning shows up, and how the backup power or key works.
The two safes below are listed in our catalog and offer more than one way in. Neither appears in the recall notices covered on this page. Still, run your own cpsc.gov search for the model you’re considering, because notices change.
Vaultek LifePod 20 Biometric
The LifePod 20 is a portable polymer case, not a steel box. Its listing describes three ways in: a water-resistant fingerprint scanner, a backlit Smart Sense keypad and two manual backup keys. It also has an optional anti-picking feature for the keypad. It runs on a 9V battery, and a hidden micro-USB port can power it if the battery dies. The interior is listed at 9.625 x 7.25 x 2.125 inches, and Vaultek says it holds a full-size handgun up to 9.25 inches long. It comes with a steel security cable, which suits travel and vehicle storage more than permanent home storage. At the time of writing it sat in the $200 to $300 range, so check the current price on Amazon’s LifePod 20 listing. The Vaultek LifePod 20 Biometric review goes deeper into fit and sealing.
SentrySafe QAP2BLX
The SentrySafe QAP2BLX is a solid-steel bedside safe with a pry-resistant door. Its listing describes a fingerprint scanner, a digital keypad and an override key, plus a gas strut that opens the door for one-handed access. The interior is listed at 14 x 6.5 x 2.2 inches, which SentrySafe says fits two standard handguns or one larger pistol. It runs on four AA alkaline batteries and comes with a bolt-down kit. The listing says it is California DOJ certified for handgun storage. It sat in the $100 to $200 range at the time of writing. See the QAP2BLX listing on Amazon for today’s price, or read our SentrySafe QAP2BLX review.
If you’ve lost faith in fingerprint readers altogether, RFID safes open with a tag or wristband instead. The Hornady RAPiD Safe Night Guard is one example, covered in our Hornady RAPiD Safe Night Guard review. Our best RFID gun safes guide compares that category. Check any model against cpsc.gov before you buy.
Where to go next
For fingerprint models with backups, see our best biometric gun safe picks. For fast bedside access with any lock type, see the quick access safe guide. Our complete gun safe buying guide covers the whole category. If you’re comparing many models at once, the A to Z list of gun safe reviews links every model we cover.
A final reminder: storage and child-access laws vary by state; check yours. A recalled safe with a working fingerprint reader may not count as secure storage, so keep it locked with the key until the official remedy is done.
Biometric Gun Safe Recall FAQ
Which biometric gun safes were recalled?
On February 22, 2024, CPSC announced recalls of biometric safes sold as Awesafe, Bulldog (models BD4030B, BD4040B and BD4055B), Machir and BBRKIN/MouTec (model QCJJ01). In each case the fingerprint lock could fail and let unauthorized users open the safe. Fortress and Sports Afield/Sanctuary safes were also recalled, and CPSC issued warnings about Stack-On, Owsoo and Cacagoo models. Check cpsc.gov for the current list.
What should I do if my Awesafe gun safe is recalled?
Stop using the fingerprint reader, remove the batteries and keep the safe locked with the key only. Keep that key somewhere children can’t reach. The CPSC notice for recall 24-127 explains how to get a free replacement: you disable the biometric reader following the firm’s instructions and email the company a photo. Use the contact details in the CPSC notice.
How do I know if my Bulldog gun safe is part of the recall?
Check the silver label on the back right corner of the safe for the model number. The CPSC Bulldog recall (24-130) covers the BD4030B Magnum Biometric Pistol Vault, the BD4040B Pistol Vault with Shelf and the BD4055B Top Load Pistol Vault. Bulldog’s non-biometric products are not part of this recall. If your model matches, contact Bulldog using the details in the notice.
Is the Machir biometric safe recall still open?
CPSC recall 24-129 tells Machir owners to stop using the biometric lock, remove the batteries and use only the key. The remedy is a free replacement after you disable the reader as Machir instructs and send a photo. Remedies can change over time, so open the CPSC notice or contact Machir directly to confirm the program is still running before you send anything.
Can I keep using a recalled gun safe with the key?
The CPSC notices tell owners to keep using the safe with the key only, after removing the batteries so the biometric lock is out of service. That only works if the key is controlled. Keep it on your person or locked away separately, never next to the safe. Contact the firm for the free remedy instead of relying on key-only use for good.
How can I check a gun safe for recalls before buying?
Search the exact brand and model on cpsc.gov/Recalls, then search the phrase "biometric gun safe" to catch notices that cover several brands. Check the manufacturer’s site for safety notices, and Health Canada’s listings if you are in Canada. After you buy, test that an unregistered fingerprint is rejected. If it is not, stop using the biometric lock.
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