|
CPSC News Release |
Product and Firm | Problem | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
|
01-124 04/17/01 |
Disposable lighters with brandnames "Boda-Bing," "Gil," "Happy," or "Wax" stamped on the metal tops. Sold from January 1998 through February 2001. Gladstrong Investments USA Hacienda Heights, CA |
The lighters' child-resistant mechanisms are frequently ineffective. Young children are able to operate the lighters, posing a fire hazard. 13 million units; 1 death (4-year-old girl) and another incident involving property damage. |
Return to store for refund, or call firm: 888-864-3562 |
|
01-120 04/05/01 |
Disposable lighters with the brand name "Youjie" stamped on the chrome metal shield. Sold in southeastern U.S. from June 2000 through February 2001. Fleetwood EXIM Inc. Grenada, MS |
The lighters' child-resistant mechanisms fail to meet the requirements of federal law. Young children can ignite the lighters, posing a fire hazard. 950,000 units; no injuries reported. |
Return to store for refund, or call firm: 888-251-5252 |
|
99-095 04/13/99 |
Novelty Lighters resembling lamps and flying saucers. Sold from March 1997 through February 1999. Kikkerland Designs New York, NY |
Lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms. No injuries reported. 20,000 units |
Return to store for refund. |
|
99-119b 06/03/99 |
Novelty Lighters shaped as cars, grenades, elephants, alligators, motorcycles, guns or telephones. Sold from October 1998 through March 1999. C&H Trading Metairie, LA |
Lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms. No injuries reported. 40,000 units |
Return to store for refund. |
|
99-123b 06/15/99 |
Novelty Lighters shaped as telephone pager, cell phone, and Godzilla. Sold from January through April 1999. ZNY Enterprises New York, NY |
Lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms. No injuries reported. 10,600 units |
Return to store for refund. |
|
00-062 02/07/00 |
Novelty Lighters look like a miniature propane or scuba tank, or like a gun. Sold from March 1997 through February 1999. Prometheus International Inc. Bell, CA |
Lighters do not have child-resistant mechanisms. No injuries reported. 4,000 units |
Return to store for refund. |
|
00-093 04/07/00 |
Children's decorative lamps Brand: "Little Ones" for Kmart, sold from January 1993 through March 2000 Kmart Corp. Troy, MI |
Electric lamps can short circuit posing a fire hazard. 280,000 units; 8 fires, 2 with major property damage. |
Refund Call firm 800-63KMART |
|
98-097 04/23/98 |
Horizontal (under-cabinet) Toaster Brand: Black & Decker Spacemaker Optima Model T1000 Type 1 Sold from 1994 through 1996. |
The toaster can allow food to catch fire, door automatically opens, flames escape and expose cabinets to fire. 234,000 units; 1,066 fires; 8 burns |
Replacement product Call firm: 800-746-2159 |
|
00-097 04/12/00 |
Toasters sold from April 1997 through September 1999 Proctor-Silex Glen Allen, VA |
Heating elements in these toasters can remain on after the toast pops up. This poses a fire hazard.
24 complaints of heating elements staying on; 3 food fires resulting in property damage. |
Replacement Call firm 800-992-4616 |
|
99-069 02/24/99 |
Extension cords, power strips, and surge protectors with undersized wires, loose connections, faulty components or improper grounding. |
Faulty extension cords (with undersized wires, loose connections, faulty components or improper grounding) can cause fire, shock, and electrocution. In one year, CPSC estimated there were 5,700 fires resulting in 40 deaths associated with electrical cords and plugs. More than 11,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for electrical burns and shocks, and about 230 people were treated for injuries associated with extension cords. |
Look for certification label from an independent testing lab (such as UL or ETL). Use cords that have polarized plugs or grounded three-pronged plugs to reduce risk of shock. Don't overload cords with too many appliances. Return recalled cords to company for refund. |
|
99-067 02/23/99 |
Wellmax extension cords; 1 million units sold from March 1997 through November 1998 Wellmax International Inc. Long Beach, CA | ||
|
99-068a 02/23/99 |
Tools Exchange outdoor extension cords; 2,760 units sold from August 1998 through January 1999 Tools Exchange Inc. Lynwood, CA |
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|
00-176 08/31/00 |
Battery-powered children's riding vehicle Brand: "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L" Made from July 1995 to December 1996 Empire Industries Tarboro, NC |
Vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children. 113,000 units; 100 incidents of chargers overheating, melting, or burning; 5 house fires; 2 injuries |
Replacement charger adapter with overcurrent fuse. Call firm 800-872-1869 |
|
00-177 08/31/00 |
Battery-powered toy riding vehicle with battery chargers. Model names: Prowler, Dodge Ram, Corvette, SPX Motorcycle, Honda; Sold from July 1998 through April 2000 Tek Nek Toys Mokena, IL |
Battery charger or wires can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children. 294,000 units; 17 reports of battery chargers and wires overheating; 2 burns to hands while unplugging or charging the vehicles. |
Replacement battery charger Call firm: (877) 446-7719 |
|
99-012 10/22/98 |
Ride-On Battery-Powered Vehicles made before October 1998 Brand: Power Wheels Fisher-Price East Aurora, NY |
The vehicles' electrical components can overheat and cause fires. 10 million units; 150 fires; 9 burns |
Repair: Remove batteries
and call firm 800-977-7800 |
|
97-002 10/03/96 |
Baby monitors made June 1986 through 1990 Model 602; date codes 8806 through 9005 Gerry Baby Products Company Thornton, CO |
Wires inside may be improperly connected resulting in overheating or possible fire. 990,000 units; 1 death allegedly involving a model 602 baby monitor. |
Free replacement Call firm 800-672-6289 |
|
97-173 08/21/97 |
Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps, all those manufactured before 02/05/97 |
Fire hazard when bulb ignites flammable materials. 40 million units; 436 fires; 35 deaths reported |
In-home repair with free wire guard. Get wire guards guards by sending postcard to: Attention Consumer Services 18191 NW 68th Ave Miami, FL 33015 |
|
01-054 12/14/00 00-006 10/18/99 |
GE and Hotpoint dishwashers manufactured between April 1983 and January 1989, with these models: GSD500D, GSD500G, GSD540, HAD467, HDA477, or HDA487 and a serial number that has a second letter of A, M, R, S, T, V or Z. General Electric Appliances Co. Louisville, KY |
The dishwashers have a slide switch that can melt and ignite, presenting a fire hazard. 3.1 million units; 90 incidents of fire, smoking and melted switches, 14 of which included fires that spread beyond the dishwasher. No injuries reported. |
Free re-wire option or rebate program. Call firm 800-599-2929 |
|
00-070 02/17/00 |
In-wall electric heaters distributed mainly in California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington sold from 1985 through 1997. Models FW, FX, LX, TK, ZA, Z, RA, RK, RLX, RX, and ZC Cadet Manufacturing Co. Vancouver, WA |
The Cadet and Encore in-wall electric heaters can overheat and catch fire. Flames, sparks, or molten particles can spew through the front grill cover. 1.9 million units; 320 reports of heaters that smoked, sparked, caught fire, emitted flames, or ejected burning particles. These incidents allegedly resulted in 3 deaths, 2 serious burn injuries, and $1.2 million in property damage. |
Replacement heater at significantly reduced cost (between $25 and $57, depending on the model). Call firm 800-567-2613 |
| Safety Alert | Hair Dryers without immersion protection devices to prevent electric shock. | Hair dryers without an immersion protection device present a risk of electrocution if submerged in water. |
Destroy Get a hair dryer with a large rectangular plug and the certification mark of a recognized testing laboratory. |
NOTE: Products listed above may have already been repaired or there may be similar products that do not have the identified problems. For assistance in identifying recalled products, call the manufacturer listed or the CPSC toll-free Hotline at 800-638-2772.