[Recalls Page]

December 2005 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Petters Consumer Brands LLC, of Minnetonka, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 165,000 Battery packs used with Polaroid-brand portable DVD players. The battery can overheat and melt the plastic case while recharging, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Recreational Equipment Inc., of Kent, Wash. is voluntarily recalling about 2,800 Novara Dirt Rider 20-inch 5-speed and 6-speed bicycles. The alloy frame used for these bicycles can be prone to fatigue failure. Frame failure results in the separation of the fork, head tube, and handlebar away from the rest of the bike causing a loss of control and crash, and posing a risk of serious injury to the rider.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Family Dollar Stores, of Charlotte, N.C. is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Spinning Star Christmas Tree Toppers. The tree topper can melt or smoke near the on/off switch, which could pose a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. is voluntarily recalling about 104,000 Aspen 3 in 1 Cribs, sold under the Graco Trademark. The screws on the wooden mattress support can come loose allowing a portion of the mattress to fall, posing a suffocation hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Meco Corp., of Greeneville, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling about 98,000 Aussie™ Gas Grills. The regulators on these gas grills, the component that controls the amount of gas released to the burner, can leak propane when the propane cylinder is connected and open, and the grill is not in use. This poses a risk of fire and burn injuries.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), CFM Corporation, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is voluntarily recalling about 10,200 Legacy Propane Infrared Plaque Heaters. Carbon monoxide hazard. A non-specification gasket around the heating plaques could allow heater carbon monoxide emissions to leak into the area in which the heater is being used.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dell Inc., of Round Rock, Texas is voluntarily recalling about 22,000 Dell Notebook Computer Batteries in the U.S. These batteries can overheat, which could pose a fire risk.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Black Diamond Equipment, of Salt Lake City, Utah is voluntarily recalling about 2,300 pairs of Scarpa T2X Telemark Ski Boots. The plastic boot cuff can crack when flexed open in an unbuckled, non-skiing position causing discomfort on the ankle or shin, making the problem evident prior to skiing and thus unsuitable for use.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky. is voluntarily recalling about 6,600 GE Monogram® 36-inch and 48-inch Professional Gas Ranges. These ranges were manufactured with a design flaw that can cause an electrical arc between the wiring and adjacent gas supply tubes at two locations in the control housing of the range, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Advantage Publishers Group, of San Diego, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 41,000 Children's Books. If the clear plastic container is removed from the book's back cover or breaks, young children can access the beads in it. This poses a choking hazard to young children.

As Americans begin to receive their winter heating bills and begin to explore alternative ways to heat their homes, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about alternative heat sources and reminding them to follow safety precautions while keeping their home warm this winter.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maxim Enterprise Inc. of Lakeville, Mass., and Target of Minneapolis, Minn., are voluntarily recalling about 12,000 Little Tree Mini Learning Cubes. Small wooden pegs in the top corners of the toy can come loose posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Celebrate Express Inc., of Kirkland, Wash. is voluntarily recalling about 21,100 magic party favors and 25,500 costume shields. The magic party favors and the dragon ornament on the shield could break or crack, exposing sharp points that present a possible laceration hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Honda Motor Corp. Inc., of Torrance, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 Honda Model Year 2005 and 2006 TRX400EX ATVs. A safety defect could exist in the transmission that could allow the rider to downshift from 1st gear into reverse without operating the reverse assist (lockout) lever. The reverse lockout spring may not have been properly installed. Unintended engagement of reverse gear while moving forward could lock the rear wheels and cause the rider to lose control.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kids II Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga. is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 Bounce Bounce Baby! Door Jumpers. The plastic clamp that attaches the jumper seat to a door frame can break, which can cause the unit and child to fall to the floor. This poses an injury hazard to young children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today Winco Fireworks Inc., Winco Fireworks International LLC and Winco Fireworks of Utah LLC, of Prairie Village, Kan., and David Collar will pay a $600,000 civil penalty for importing and selling dangerous fireworks.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that SMC Marketing Corp., of Grand Prairie, Texas, a subsidiary of Shell Electric Mfg. (Holdings) Co. Ltd. (Shell Electric Holdings), of Hong Kong, has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, settles allegations that the company failed to report to CPSC in a timely manner about fires and incidents involving their oscillating floor fans.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Chuck E. Cheese's (CEC Entertainment), of Irving, Texas is voluntarily recalling about 144,000 Plastic Siren Whistles. The recalled plastic siren whistle's internal pieces can detach from the toy, posing a choking hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), J & F Design, Inc., of Bell, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 18,800 Bobby Jack™ pajama sets. These pajamas sets fail to meet the federal mandatory standard for flammability of children's sleepwear under the Flammable Fabrics Act. This poses a risk of burn injuries to children.

It's that festive time of year again - Time to string the lights, hang decorations, put up Christmas trees, and bring out the candles to celebrate the holidays. To keep the holiday season a merry one, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has decorating safety tips for consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 21,900 Kawasaki 2005 model year Brute Force ATVs. Tie rod separation caused by either wear or severe impact can occur during operation, causing the front wheel to separate from the steering control. Separation of the tie rod can cause the rider to lose control of the ATV, resulting in a serious injury or death to the rider.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced an agreement with the Mexican government aimed at further improving consumer safety and making both the United States and Mexican marketplaces among the safest in the world. This agreement is also part of the "Security and Prosperity Partnership" between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Toshiba America Consumer Products LLC, of Wayne, N.J. is voluntarily recalling about 4,100 DVD Home Theater Systems. A problem in the system's circuit board could pose a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), King of Fans Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. is voluntarily recalling about 202,000 Maxi-Heat™ Electric Oil-Filled Radiator Heaters. Welds in the heating fins can break, allowing oil to leak. This poses a burn and fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ideal Distributors Inc., of Chicago, Ill. is voluntarily recalling about 1,000 Cachito Pacifiers. The nipples can detach from the base, posing a choking hazard to young children.