Recalls in January 1970

August 20, 2004
General Motors is recalling 32,301 Aveo cars from the 2004 model year to repair a problem with the rear seat belt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the seat belts in the rear seats can become twisted. If that happens, the seat belt retractor may lock into position and the seat belt can't be used.

GM will begin notifying owners about the recall next month. GM dealers will install a guide in the belt to keep it from twisting.

There have been numerous problems with the Aveo since it was introduced last year. At one point, the company ordered dealers to stsop selling the cars after five of them were involved in similar accidents. After an investigation, sales resumed.

June 3, 2004
Marukyo U.S.A. is recalling about 6,000 Kuru Kuru hair dryers. These electric hair dryers are not equipped with an immersion protection device to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water.

The recalled Kuru Kuru model hair dryers include the following model numbers: EHP798P, EHP790P, EH724V, and EH725PK. The model name and number can be found on the handle. The recalled units, which come in blue and pink, do not have an immersion protection device at the end of the plug.

The hair dryers were sold at Asian retail stores nationwide between January 2002 and December 2003 for about $27.

Consumers should stop using the hair dryers immediately and return them to the store where purchased or to Marukyo U.S.A. Inc. for a refund.

Consumer Contact: Contact Marukyo U.S.A. collect at (213) 488-0707 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or by email at marukyo@sbcglobal.net

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

December 2, 2004
Classic Sport Companies Inc. is recalling about 1,470 table soccer games. The lighting structures may spark if the tube lights are not properly installed, posing a fire hazard.

There have been two reports of the table catching fire. No injuries were reported.

The recall involves Classic Sport Underlit Table Soccer game, models X0725, X0743 and X0761. The table soccer game is a soccer table with a glass playing surface and fluorescent tube lighting mounted underneath, causing the playing surface to illuminate when turned on.

The games were sold at retail outlets nationwide at Galyans Sports and Outdoors, The Sports Chalet, and The Sports Authority (including Gart Sports, Sportmart, and Oshmans) between August 2004 and October 2004 for about $900 for the X0725 and about $600 for the Z0743 and X0761..

Consumers should immediately disconnect all power to the table soccer game. Consumers may return the unit for a full refund or contact Classic Sport for a rebate for the removal of the lighting fixture.

Consumer Contact: Contact Classic Sport Companies, Inc. at (800) 225-5712 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit Classic Sport web site at www.classicsport.com.

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

June 4, 2004
Subaru of America, Inc. announced a voluntary recall on 2005 Legacy Sedan and Outback Sedan models to address a side curtain airbag problem.

This recall involves all 2005 model-year Subaru Legacy Sedan and Outback Sedan models. The affected vehicles were produced at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. between October 2, 2003 and June 1, 2004. While approximately 1,960 vehicles are affected, only 130 vehicles have been retailed.

The affected vehicles comply with the current side impact requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 201P and 214D. However, the newly designed side curtain airbags on the affected vehicles were not built to proper Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. specifications, which provide added occupant head protection, and therefore may not offer proper head protection in side impact crashes. There have been no accidents or injuries attributed to this problem.

In early June, Subaru will notify all owners of the 130 retailed vehicles by telephone and by mail to return their vehicles to a Subaru dealer for installation of new side curtain airbags at no charge to the owner.

March 17, 2004
The Brass Light Gallery is recalling its alabaster wall sconce lights. The tie-downs which secure the electrical wires to the mounting bracket may come loose, causing the wire to touch the bulb and pose a fire hazard to consumers.

Brass Light has received two reports of wire tie-downs coming loose, though no injuries have been reported.

The wall-mounted light fixtures have a translucent, natural alabaster stone cover. The recalled wall sconces include model numbers AL-3208, AL-5008, and AL-5108. Models AL-3208 and AL-5008 use one light bulb; whereas, Model AL-5108 uses two bulbs. The alabaster covers measure 8 inches in width and between 9 and 15 inches in height.

The sconces were sold by lighting distributors nationwide and Brass Light Gallery mail order services sold the wall sconces from January 1998 through November 2003 for between $175 and $340.

Consumers should contact Brass Light Gallery for instructions on receiving a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: Call Brass Light Gallery toll-free at (888) 212-4953 anytime.

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

April 21, 2004
Virgo Enterprises is recalling about 900 electric hand-held hair dryers. These hair dryers do not have an immersion protection device or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the power cord, which poses a serious electrocution hazard if the unit is dropped in water.

In 1991, a voluntary standard was implemented that called for all hair dryers used by consumers to protect against electrocution in both the on and off position.

The recalled units are the Turbo 2000, Turbo Laser 1500, Super Turbo 3000, Turbo Plus 2800 and Turbo Plus 1800 electric hand held hair dryers. These hair dryers have a pistol grip, black or red colored plastic casing, two-prong power cord, and a label that reads in part, Virgo Professional and 110V/60HZ. The model name and number also are printed on the label.

The dryers were sold by retail beauty supply stores in the metropolitan New York area between March 2003 and December 2003 for about $50.

Consumers should stop using these hair dryers immediately and return the unit to the firm for a replacement unit that has an immersion protection device.

Consumer Contact: Virgo Enterprises representatives at (800) 552-0961between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

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

June 16, 2004
Carrier Air Conditioning is recalling 16,000 frozen food cases -- the kind you see at your neighborhood supermarket. Moisture building up pressure inside the defrost heater can cause it to forcefully eject from the frozen food case, possibly injuring bystanders.

Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc. has reports of four incidents where the defrost heater forcefully ejected, and in two instances, the defrost heater penetrated through the end of the frozen food case. In one incident, a consumers leg was broken.

The recalled defrost heater was used in Tylers wide island frozen food end cap cases in grocery stores. The recalled defrost heaters (which are not visible to consumers) are Electro-Heat Defrost Heater Model 51957100. The Tyler wide island frozen food end cap cases with the recalled heaters are models NCE, NFE, NGE, NCGE, NFJEA, NCJEA, NCJGEA and NFJGEA. The model and serial number is located on the data plate, which is on the front inner panel of the case.

Grocery stores nationwide use these wide island frozen food end cap cases with defrost heaters to display food items. The cases with heaters were sold by Tyler Refrigeration from the mid-1970s to the present.

Tyler will replace the recalled defrost heater with a Cal-rod hairpin style heater in all wide island frozen food and ice cream end cap cases.

Tyler will contact its grocery store customers to set up appointments for the replacement of defrost heaters in these frozen food cases. For more information, contact Tylers toll-free number at (800) 992-3744 x804 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Tylers Web site at www.tylerrefrigeration.com.

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

July 28, 2004
Quaker Maid Meats, Inc., of Reading, PA, is voluntarily recalling approximately 170,000 pounds of ground beef patties due to mislabeling. The beef patties were partially made from Canadian product that was mislabeled and ineligible for import to the U.S. because of mad cow disease restrictions.

``This is a mistake made in Canada,'' USDA Undersecretary Elsa Murano told reporters.

Canada discovered its first case of mad cow disease last year. The United States since then has restricted meat imports from Canada to those that are thought to be low-risk.

Products subject to recall include:

• 5-pound boxes of "PHILLY-GOURMET, 100% PURE BEEF, HOMESTYLE PATTIES" with a packaging code of 1974 or 2024.
• 3-pound boxes of "PHILLY-GOURMET, 100% PURE BEEF, HOMESTYLE PATTIES" with a packaging code of 1974 or 2024.
• 3-pound boxes of "The Philly Homestyle Beef Patty" with a packaging code of 1984 or 2014.

The products also bear the "Est. 2748" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The patties were produced on July 15, 16, 19 and 20 and were shipped to distribution centers and retail stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin and Maine.

Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (l-888-674-6854). The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

March 24, 2004
Isabella model cribs are being recalled by Stanley Furniture Company Inc.

An incorrect screw (used to attach the movable gate) was provided for the assembly of some of these cribs. The crib cannot be assembled using this screw. However, if consumers have substituted their own screw, it may not properly hold the movable gate in place.

The result is a potential risk that a child could fall from the crib or become entrapped between the gate and the mattress.

These are Isabella model cribs with model number 326-94C1 or 326-94C2. The model number appears on the bar code label. The Isabella cribs are distributed through Stanley Funitures Young America line. They are made of wood and painted white.

The cribs were sold at department and furniture stores nationwide from November 2003 through February 2004 for about $980.

Consumers should contact the store where the crib was purchased to schedule a free, in-home crib inspection and repair, if needed. These stores also will attempt to contact consumers.

Consumer Contact: Consumers should call Stanley Furniture at (888) 839- 6822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

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

November 19, 2004
Byer of Maine is recalling about 7,800 Trilite stools. The legs of the stool can bend and the stools may collapse when used on smooth hard floor surfaces.

Several stool collapses have been reported by retailers. No injuries have been reported.

This recall includes Byer of Maine TriLite Stools shipped between February 19, 2004 and June 16, 2004. The affected stools are only those that have been produced in China, specifically those that bear the Byer of Maine logo screen printed in silver ink on the plastic leg hub.

The stools were sold by various retail stores across the United States for approximately $18.00.

Consumers will be supplied with replacement stools on a two-for-one basis. Contact Byer of Maine to arrange for replacement.

Call Byer of Maine toll-free at (800) 338-0580 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firms Web site at www.byerofmaine.com/recall.pdf.

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

January 20, 2004
K'NEX Industries is recalling about 14,000 "Mud Bogger" and "Street Shredder" pump-up racers. The air motor in the toy cars can burst while being pumped up, causing parts of the motor or car to break off. Some of these parts can have sharp points and pose a risk of eye or laceration injuries.

K'NEX has received two reports of bursting air motors, though no injuries have been reported.

The recalled K'NEX Pump Up Racers come in two models: the "Mud Bogger," which has a yellow car body and the "Street Shredder," which has a red car body. Both models have a date code beginning with 7803, which is located on the bottom of the air motor, directly under the name "K'NEX Industries Inc." The toy cars come with a pump attachment that helps project the car forward.

Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and Target stores nationwide sold the toys between November 2003 and December 2003 for about $10.

Consumers should stop children from using these toy cars immediately and contact the company for a free replacement air motor or alternative product.

Consumer Contact: Call K'NEX Industries at (800) 543-5639 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or log on to the company's Web site at www.knex.com.

February 18, 2004
Ariens is recalling its 13-Horsepower Sno-Throw, Model 924506. The blade may not stop when the blade brake control is applied, resulting in continued blade movement. The potential for injury exists if consumers make contact with the rotary blade.

The units were sold by Home Depot stores in U.S. and Canada from October 7, 2003 to October 24, 2003 for between $2,500 and $2,800. Some units were sold elsewhere but Ariens already has notified those consumers.

Consumers should stop using these snow throwers immediately and return them to Home Depot or a local Ariens dealer for a free inspection and, if needed, repair. To access the serial numbers for the units affected, check the Ariens Web site: www.ariens.com/safety_recall.

Consumer Contact: For more information, call Ariens toll-free at (888) 927-4367 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

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

February 10, 2004
Luminessence T-Lite Candles with Glass Holder are being recalled because paint on the exterior surface of the candles can sustain a flame posing a potential fire hazard.

Dollar Tree has received six reports of candles producing excessive flame and/or igniting. Three of these reports involved minor injuries and three involved minor property damage.

The recalled candles were sold in packages containing eight tea light candles and one glass holder in the shape of a flower. The 1-inch tall candles were available in either gold or silver. A label affixed to the top of the package containing the recalled candles reads "Luminessence candles, 8 T-Lite Candles with Glass Holder, NET WT 3.2 oz (EACH 10G)." The label affixed to the bottom of the package reads, "DOLLAR TREE DIST., CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, MADE IN CHINA."

The candles were sold at Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express, and Dollar Bills retail stores nationwide from September 2003 through October 2003 for $1.

Dollar Tree is offering a refund for each returned candle set.

Consumer Contact: For more information, call Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. at (800) 876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

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

June 10, 2004
Honda is recalling 130,617 CR-V sport utility vehicles because of potential airbag problems and 19,572 Accord sedans for potential instrument panel lighting problems, the company announced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said bad wiring in the driver's airbags in 2002-2004 CR-V models could cause them to inflate at the wrong rate. Honda (HMC) dealers will repair the wiring beginning this month.

NHTSA also discovered heat buildup inside instrument panels on 2000-2001 Accord models could cause panel lights to fail. Honda dealers will begin notifying owners about the recall in July.

November 19, 2004
Emerson Motor Co. is recalling about 5,800 3.7-inch stators (stationary component of a motor) used in pumps.

Under locked condition, the unit can become overheated and present a potential fire/shock hazard to consumers.

The stators were sold to Procon Products for the application in insecticide insertion pumps and water purification systems.

Emerson Motor Company will repair or replace all non-conforming units at no cost to the consumers.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Procon Products at (800) 710-2554 Extension 0 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

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

March 13, 2006
AquaPod 12-gallon aquariums are being recalled due to a shock hazard.

The aquariums have three power cords, two for the aquarium lamps and one for the air pump. When only one of the two lamp cords is plugged in, the unplugged lamp cord can become energized, posing an electrical shock hazard.

Current USA Inc. has received nine reports of electrical problems with these aquariums, resulting in seven consumers suffering shocks by touching unplugged, energized lamp cords.

This recall affects AquaPod Aquariums with model number 7050. The model number is not written on the aquariums, but is on the owners manual and the packaging. Only aquariums without a white label containing the manufacturer date and a bar code, which is attached to light reflector inside lid of the aquariums are included in this recall.

To check if your unit has a white sticker, open the aquarium lid and look on the bottom left corner of the light reflector. If your AquaPod 12-Gallon System has a white label with a date in black letters and bar code, it is not included in the recall. Model numbers 7051 and 7052 aquariums also are not included in the recall.

The acquariums were sold in pet stores nationwide, pet merchandise catalogs, and by Web retailers from December 2005 through January 2006 for about $240.

Consumers should stop using these aquariums immediately by turning off the power at the breaker switch and unplugging all the cords. Consumers should contact their local retailer or call the firm for information on receiving a free replacement aquarium.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers should call Current USA Inc. toll-free at (866) 276-8872 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firms Web site at www.current-usa.com.

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

Apr. 26, 2004
General Motors is recalling about 108,000 2004 Chevrolet Malibus to fix a seat-belt anchor that could detach in a severe side-impact crash, and to reprogram an anti-lock brake system controller.

Chevrolet dealers will insert a retainer in the seat-belt anchor and reprogram the ABS controller.

There have been no reports of accidents related to either condition, GM said.

Customers should contact their dealers for service after receiving notification letters in June. There will be no charge to consumers for the repairs.

The recall covers certain Malibus built from May 2003 to March 2004. About 95,000 of them are in the United States.

July 20, 2004
About 1.2 million Reebok and NordicTrack chrome dumbbells are being recalled. Because they do not fit together properly, the weights can fall off the handles of the dumbbells and strike the user.

Jumpking, the importer, has received nine reports of weights falling off handles including five consumers who received injuries such as bruising, a broken nose, and a broken toe.

The chrome dumbbells weigh between 2 and 50 pounds and have the Reebok or NordicTrack trademark name on the outside of the bells along with the weight of the dumbbell.

The weights were sold at Gart Sports, Sears, Target and other retail stores who carry sporting good products nationwide from June 2000 through May 14, 2004 for between $4 and $45.

Consumers should examine their dumbbells to make sure the weights on both ends are tightly secured to the handle. If they are loose, contact Jumpking to obtain instructions on how to receive the free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: Consumers can call Jumpking at (800) 322-2211 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. or go to the companys Web site at www.jumpking.com.

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

March 10, 2004
Harbor Freight Tools is recalling about 9,000 heavy-duty portable industrial cord reels. Electric shock or fire is possible because the internal grounding conductor may not be properly secured to the receptacle.

The recalled heavy duty portable industrial cord reels are yellow with a carrying handle, extendable/retractable extension cord and 6 electrical outlets/plugs. The units are marked Cord Reel Portable Power and sold as SKU 42053. The label on the rear of the unit contains the following information: Cord Reel, 10 Amps, 125 Volts, 1250 Watts, Caution, Disconnect all plugs inserted into the outlets on this face before winding cord reel in either direction, Made in Taiwan, R.O.C.

The devices were sold from Harbor Freight Tools catalogs and website only from January 2000 through the beginning of February 2004 for approximately $10 to $13.

Remedy: Stop using the cord and reel immediately. Consumers should call Harbor Freight Tools at (800) 444-3353 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday to obtain a refund. Harbor Freight Tools is contacting owners of affected cord reels by direct mail where the name is known to the firm. Consumers can also visit the firms Web site at www.harborfreight.com.

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