Recalls in January 1970

July 7, 2004
Ford is recalling 170,500 vehicles in North America because of a variety of defects that could lead to rattling seats, squeaky wheels and trouble starting engines.

The recall affects 145,500 F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks, Excursion sport utility vehicles, Crown Victoria police vehicles, and Lincoln Town cars.

The 2003 model-year pickup trucks and Excursion SUVs equipped with diesel engines have problems with battery connectors, which could affect the performance of the engine, cause it not to start and potentially melt other vehicle parts due to the high voltage, Ford said.

Ford says 35 fires were reported on the trucks and SUVs, but no injuries or accidents have been reported on any of the above-mentioned vehicles.

The Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town cars have defective axles that could cause wheels to squeak or the vehicles to come to a stop, the Ford said.

Ford also recalled 25,000 2004 model-year Taurus, Mercury Sable and Thunderbird cars due to problems with the front seats, which could rattle or come loose.

Dealers have been asked to stop selling and demonstrating the Taurus and Sable models with driver-side power seats built from Nov. 17, 2003, through Jan. 15, 2004. The Thunderbirds with driver-side power seats built from Dec. 15, 2003, through Jan. 20, 2004, are involved in the recall.

December 14, 2004
First Team Inc. is recalling about 7,600 basketball hoops. The bolt attaching the arm to the vertical post can break, causing the backboard to fall and injure someone standing below.

First Team has received one report of a backboard falling. No injuries were reported.

This recall involves First Team Attack, Force and Titan basketball hoops. The hoops have a spring-loaded E-Z crank, adjustable backboard that goes from 6-feet, 6-inches to 10-feet tall. First Team is written on the bottom left corner of the clear acrylic or tempered glass backboard. The heavy duty basketball hoops are often professionally installed.

The hoops were sold through Internet sales, distributors, and independent retail stores from January 1996 through August 2004 for between $1,000 and $1,800.

Consumers should stop using their basketball hoops and contact First Team Customer Service to receive a free repair kit.

Contact: Call First Team at (800) 649-3688 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

December 29, 2004
Ford is expanding its recall of Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs because of problems with the rear liftgate. If left unlocked, the liftgate could open during a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than 310,000 vehicles from the 2001-2005 model years are involved in the latest recall.

Earlier this month, Ford announced that it was recalling more than 600,000 Escapes and Mazda Tributes from the 2002-2004 model years because the accelerator cable may prevent the engine from returning to idle, which could increase stopping distance and result in a crash.

March 13, 2004
General Motors Corp. is recalling 93,572 Oldsmobile Aurora sedans because fuel can leak into the engine and start a fire, the federal government said Friday. The recall affects Auroras from the 1995-1997 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has received 123 complaints about the problem. In one case, a fire started while the vehicle was parked in a garage attached to a home. The vehicle was destroyed and the home was damaged, NHTSA said.

The agency said the fuel is leaking because the nylon tubing used in the fuel rail can degrade and crack. Owners will be notified later this spring of GM's plans to repair the vehicles.

NHTSA also announced that DaimlerChrysler AG is recalling 34,561 Pacifica sport utility vehicles and 14,621 Jeep Grand Cherokees because their engines could stall without warning and cause a crash. Vehicles from the 2004 model year are affected in those recalls.

February 26, 2004
Quality Fresh Cigars is recalling the Nibo Space 5 and Nibo Space 19 Novelty Lighters sold through its catalog from April 2003 to September 2003 for about $20. The lighters were also given away as premiums with some purchases.

The lighters were imported without first being tested to show compliance with CPSC requirements that the lighters be child-resistant. They pose fire and burn hazards to young children.

There are two styles of lighters included in this recall. Nibo Space 5, model 12679, is a silver-colored lighter. The lighter is 2 7/8 tall and is in the shape of a spaceship. The word SPACE appears on one side of the lighter and the word NIBO appears on the other side. Nibo Space 19, model 13919, is a metal lighter that resembles a toy. The lighter is 3 tall. The word NIBO appears in a raised circle on one side of the lighter.

Consumers should stop using these lighters immediately. Consumers should dispose of the lighter in a manner that is in compliance with any state or local requirements. The lighters should not be incinerated or punctured.

Consumers can obtain a gift certificate for $19.95 if purchased or $5.00 if received as a gift by mailing a copy of the signed Disposal Notification Form to Quality Fresh. Consumers should send correspondence to: QFC-Nibo Recall, 1241 Chicago Road, Troy, MI 48083.

Consumer Contact: Quality Fresh at (800) 978-1908 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. The firm has sent letters and the Disposal Notification Form to consumers who purchased or received the lighters notifying them of this recall.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

April 16, 2004
General Motors Corp. is recalling as 330,000 mid-size SUVs from 2001 and 2002 -- the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada -- because their seat belts fail to meet federal safety standards.

GM had argued that the defect would not affect safety but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disagreed.

September 5, 2004
A time-released medication used to prevent heartworm in dogs is being recalled after thousands of dogs suffered adverse reactions, including sudden lethargy, uncontrolled bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, heart and liver problems and seizures.

ProHeart 6 is the only product approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be administered twice a year to treat heartworm in dogs. The product caused few problems in clincial trials but when after it won FDA approval, more problems began cropping up. ProHeart 6 is manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health, a subsidiary of Wyeth.

As of Aug. 4, the Food and Drug Administration said, it had received 5,552 reports of adverse reactions after dogs received heartworm shots. About 500 dogs died. While not all of the deaths were linked to the drug, the FDA said there was sufficient evidence of a problem to justify a recall.

The active ingredient in the drug, moxidectin, has been administered without problem to horses and cattle.

Fort Dodge sasid it had "concerns about how the agency interpreted these complex data." In a prepared statement the company said, "Based on a thorough evaluation of F.D.A.'s data and consultation with independent experts in veterinary medicine and epidemiology, Fort Dodge Animal Health stands behind ProHeart 6."

Dog owners were urged to consult veterinarians about other medications to prevent heartworm.

July 14, 2004
BMW is recalling 4,000 vehicles worldwide because of defective engine control units. The recall affects 5, 6 and 7-series and X5 models with V8 or V12 cylinder gas engines.

The company said a "temporary production fault of a supplier" is to blame.

The defect may cause the engine to cut off after a relatively short running time, potentially leading to a failure of the power-steering assistance as well as the brake booster following repeated operation of the brake, the company said.

"As a consequence, unexpected traffic situations including accidents may occur," BMW added.

The vehicles affected by the recall were built between May 12 and July 6 of this year.

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November 4, 2004
La Comisin para la Seguridad de los Productos de Consumo de los Estados Unidos (CPSC) en cooperacin con la firma mencionada a continuacin, anuncian el da de hoy, el retiro voluntario del mercado del siguiente producto de consumo. Los consumidores deben dejar de utilizar de inmediato los productos retirados del mercado, a menos que se indique lo contrario.

Las latas de aerosol afectadas contienen una vlvula vaporizadora defectuosa que podra adherirse cuando se la presiona, y posiblemente vaciar el contenido inflamable de la lata.

Valvoline ha recibido nueve reclamos acerca por adherencia de vlvulas vaporizadoras. Un consumidor se lesion cuando el producto alcanz uno de sus ojos.

El retiro del mercado comprende latas de 13 onzas del Limpiador de Piezas de Freno Pyroil Sin Cloro y el Limpiador de Frenos NAPA Sin Cloro. Este producto es utilizado por mecnicos profesionales y tambin por consumidores aficionados que reparan los frenos de su propio vehculo. Las latas retiradas del mercado contienen uno de los cuatro dgitos siguientes en el cdigo de fecha, ubicado en la parte inferior de la lata:

Los consumidores debern dejar de utilizar de inmediato las latas de aerosol retiradas del mercado y comunicarse con Valvoline para solicitar un reemplazo sin cargo.

Contacto para el Consumidor: Si desean mayor informacin, los consumidores deben llamar a Valvoline de lunes a viernes al (800) 255-3533 entre las 8:30 a.m. y las 5:30 p.m. ET.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

September 10, 2004
Ford is recalling 234,208 Econoline vans to fix a defect in the anti-lock brake unit that can start fires even when the vehicles are parked.

The company said the electronic unit that controls the anti-lock brakes in the vehicles could electrically short out. Customers should not park the van inside an enclosed structure until the problem is remedied.

Vehicles affected by the recall are from the 2003 and 2004 model years.

Ford said the problem does not affect the braking ability of the vehicles and no accidents or injuries have been reported.

Earlier this week, Ford said it was recalling about 40,000 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans because their wheel hubs may develop cracks. Minivans from the 2004 model year are involved in the recall.

February 09, 2004
General Motors is recalling about 636,0000 2002-03 model year mid-sized SUVs following two reports of crashes that resulted when windshield wiper motors short-circuited because of water leaks into a wiper module.

The recall includes certain Chevrolet TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy and Envoy XL, and Oldsmobile Bravada SUVs models as well as some Isuzu Motors Ltd. Ascenders, which GM builds.

Of the total, about 580,000 are in the United States and some 31,000 are in Canada.

The company said there were no injuries in the reported incidents. It's the second major recall for GM in four days. Last Friday, GM announced a recall of about 1.8 million cars to fix an electrical defect that could cause fires in the steering column.

To correct the wiper problem, dealers will patch a vent hole in the windshield wiper module and inspect a circuit board and electrical connector in the area for water intrusion and corrosion.

GM will notify owners beginning this fall, and dealers will fix the problem at no charge. The company said that if owners are having wiper problems, they should contact their dealers before then.

November 24, 2004
Federal regulators have opened an investigation into complaints of engine fires in Ford F-150 pickup trucks and in Expedition and Navigator SUVs.

The inquiry involves 2000 models of the three vehicles and follows 36 reports of engine fires that may be related to a cruise-control deactivation switch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The fires occurred while the vehicles were parked and the engine was off, with no accidents or injuries reported, the agency said.

ConsumerAffairs.com has also received numerous complaints about Ford truck engine fires but the complaints are not restricted to 2000 model year vehicles.

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Douglas of Sharpsburg, GA, reported that his 1997 F-150 Super Cab burned to the ground while parked outside his home. "Please do not park these trucks in your garage," Douglas cautioned.

Ryan of Cypress, TX, parked his 1997 F-150 outside a Houston fire station, where he works. This turned out to be an appropriate location since the truck burst into flames later that day.

"I heard a booming sound (like a car backfire). I sprung from my chair and looked out the back door of the fire station to see the front of my truck on fire," Ryan said.

"My wife drove it to work, parked it in a parking space and 7 hours later the vehicle burst into flames! Now we have no truck," wrote Douglas of Columbia, SC.

April 16, 2004
Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 117,000 Tribute sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) sold in North America to fix a stalling problem. The Tribute shares components with the Ford Escape, which was recalled earlier this fix for the same problem.

The recalled vehicles were manufactured in North America between April 2000 and September 2002.

Mazda has known of the problem since at least May 2002, when it sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saying the engine stalling did not present "an unreasonable risk to motor safety." At that time, Mazda said it had received 2,087 reports of stalling, including three in which accidents occurred.

Ford has said it knew of at least eight accidents resulting from the defect.

July 9, 2004
The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to feed their infants infant formula from China because the safety and nutritional adequacy of infant formula from China is unknown. Recently, infant formula from China by the name of Guan Wei Yuan was found for sale in an Asian retail market in New York.

To date, FDA is not aware of any illnesses or injuries associated with Chinese infant formula, Guan Wei Yuan. However, the analysis of certain Guan Wei Yuan powdered formulas by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food laboratory found the formula to contain less than 1/7 of the federally required minimal amount of protein per serving, approximately 1/4 the required amount of fat and only minute amounts of declared calcium and magnesium.

There is no guarantee that this product, as a potential sole source of nutrition, would provide adequate nutrients for an infant. Consumption by infants, under conditions of use described on the label and labeling, could result in outcomes including severe illness or death.

The federal law requires that any infant formula marketed in the U.S. must be registered with the FDA at least 90 days before marketing. Manufacturers are required to provide assurances that they are following good manufacturing practices and quality control procedures and that the formula will allow infants to thrive. Such assurances have not been provided for any infant formulas from China. Therefore, the agency is warning consumers that the safety and nutritional adequacy of infant formula from China is unknown.

FDA will continue to investigate and work with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and alert other states of the findings.

Consumers are advised to report any adverse reactions related to infant formula immediately to your health care provider as well as the FDA and state and local agencies.

• Porsche Recalls Cayenne SUVs
• Porsche 911 GT3 Street Racer
• Porsche 911 S and 911 4S Recalled

For more information, consumers may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or at www.safercar.gov.

This listing may not include every recall. See www.safercar.gov for additional recalls.

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2001 -- Xanadu Candle Co., of Guatemala City, Guatemala, is voluntarily recalling about 2.8 million candles. These candles can burn with a high flame, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. Xanadu Candle Co. has received seven reports of candles burning with high flames resulting in minor burns to consumers.

These candles were all sold in glass containers. A label on the bottom of these candles reads, "Nature's Preserves,TM" "Home Fragrance Filled" or "Spring Hydrangea." The "Nature's PreservesTM" candles include a 16-ounce canning jar container filled with imitation fruit, a 10-ounce round container filled with imitation flowers, jars containing candy corn or jelly beans, containers filled with star or tree shapes, square-shaped jars containing imitation vegetables, and "Beauty In BloomTM Botanical" candles. The "Home Fragrance" candles are sold in iced tea/lemonade glasses, champagne flutes and sherbet glasses. The "Spring Hydrangea" candles were round containers filled with imitation flowers. The bottom label on all the candles reads, "Trim wick to 1/4" before each lighting," "The White Barn Candle Co." and/or "Bath & Body Works."

Bath & Body Works and The White Barn Candle Co. stores nationwide sold these candles from June 1999 through January 2001 for between $15 and $25.

Consumers should stop using these recalled candles immediately and return them to any Bath & Body Works or The White Barn Candle Co. store for store credit for the price of the candle and a $5 coupon, or for a cash refund. For more information, call Bath & Body Works/The White Barn Candle Co. at (800) 395-1001 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

This recall does not apply to the 5.6 oz "Nature's PreservesTM" candles, which resemble small glass canning jars. This recall also does not apply to Nature's PreservesTM" Beauty in BloomTM" candles (small glass jars with imitation flowers), if there is a code on the bottom label that ends in either the letter "X" or "N."

October 8, 2004
Volkswagen is recalling 28,363 of its Audi A6 cars. The company said that the throttle could stick due to ice buildup in cold-weather states.

Audi will replace the throttle body in all 1998-1999 model-year A6 cars equipped with a 2.8-liter V-6 five-valve engine and automatic transmissions that are registered in 29 cold-weather states.

In all other states, Audi will repair the throttle upon request.

Audi said it has not received any reports of accidents or injuries attributed to the throttle problem.

May 27, 2004
Front Porch Classics is recalling the "Dread Pirate" coffee table game. The surface coating and the metal in the ships contain lead and pose a risk of lead poisoning to young children. A child could ingest lead by swallowing a broken part of the ship or by repeatedly mouthing the ships.

The Old Century Dread Pirate coffee table game has many playing pieces illustrating pirates, ships, coins, and treasure. This recall covers all games with lot numbers 75, 79, and 81. The lot numbers are on the bottom of the treasure chest.

The games were sold at approximately 170 toy and game stores, on-line and catalog vendors, and gift stores sold the Dread Pirate games from October 2003 through March 2004 for about $100.

Consumers should take the recalled Dread Pirate ships away from children immediately and call Front Porch for free replacement toy ships that do not contain lead and will not break.

Consumer Contact: Call Front Porch at (800) 526-0314 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday. Or visit the companys web site: https://www.frontporchclassics.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

They were sold under various trademarks which are printed on the front of the distillers. These trademarks include Millennium, Mountain Stream, Pure Logic, Sci Can, WaterWise, TIC, Usana, Table Charm, Roex and West Bend. A label on the bottom of the unit has the model number, W10120, and a date code from 9722 to 9848 in black print. Labels with red or gold print are not part of the recall. 

Direct selling dealers and door-to-door sales representatives nationwide sold these recalled distillers from May 1998 through August 1999 for about $500.

Consumers should stop using these water distillers immediately and should call West Bend to get free pickup and repair of the water distillers. In addition, the company will return each repaired water distiller with three free charcoal post filters and an additional year warranty. 

For more information or to have your water distiller repaired, call West Bend at (800) 377-3038 anytime.