Product Defect News And Advice Blog

Homelite, a chainsaw manufacturer, is recalling about 370,000 defective chainsaws because the brake can fail to stop the chain on its application, posing a risk of serious injuries. According to a news report on Consumeraffairs.com, the recall involves Homelite brand chainsaws with the following model numbers: UT10514, UT10516, UT10517, UT10518, UT10520, UT10540, UT10560 and UT10918.

These dangerous and defective products were manufactured in China between November 2007 and August 2008. The chainsaws’ date plates located under the rear handle of the saw bear both the model number and manufacturing date. Products not included in this recall are those that have a green dot sticker under the bottom side of the handle area and on the outside of the package.

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The American Association for Justice (AAJ) has a very timely report out titled “Get Out of Jail Free”. This report, based on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, tells the story of a partnership, if you will, between the Bush administration and corporate lobbyists to use a wide array of federal rulemaking to diminish or negate consumer rights, especially with regard to dangerous and defective products.

This strategy has already been used by the Federal Drug Administration to shield manufacturers of defective drugs and medical devices; by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration with regard to vehicle roof crush in rollover accidents; and by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission with regard to the issue of mattress fire safety. Each of these agencies has issued at least one ruling, which states that as long as a product meets the requirements spelled out by those rules, consumers have no right to take those manufacturers to court even if people have been injured or killed.

This Wall Street Journal story also discusses how the Bush administration has authored language “aimed at pre-empting product liability litigation to 50 federal rules that govern everything from motorcycle brakes to pain medication.”

AAJ must be commended for taking the initiative to find out the truth and tell the story about how our lawmakers and leaders who should be working to protect our legal rights are in fact, doing the opposite. AAJ’s report shows how helping large corporations and industry giants dodge accountability for dangerous products, has been one of the Bush administration’s top priorities.

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Effikal LLC. of Orion, Michigan, has recalled 45,000 of its defective gas vent dampers, which could malfunction and leak poisonous carbon monoxide gas. According to an October 9, 2008 alert issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these automatic gas vent dampers could fail suddenly. And if the blocked vent switch does not activate, the vent could leak carbon monoxide gas posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to consumers. So far no injuries or fatalities have been reported as a result of this product defect.

Consumers are asked to stop using these products right away. This recall involves Effikal RVGP-PC gas vent damper unites – sizes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 that are installed with various gas boiler systems. A complete list of those boilers may be found either on CPSC’s Web site or the firm’s Web site, www.effikal.com. The vent damper date code is located on a sticker under the motor assembly cap on the plastic base. Serial numbers can be found on a label on the side of the damper’s cap.

The products were reportedly sold by plumbing and heating wholesale distributors to plumbers and contractors nationwide from August 2007 to July 2008. The boilers ranged in price from $1,000 to $4,000 and the gas vent dampers were sold as part of these gas boiler systems. Consumers who own these defective units should contact their installer to confirm they have a recalled vent damper and receive a free vent damper replacement. Consumers are asked to call Effikal at 1-866-790-3739 for more information.

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Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc. of Canada, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling 4,600 defective Vitodens 200 boilers. According to an October 2, 2008 consumer alert issued by CPSC, these boilers can leak gas, posing a serious fire hazard to consumers. So far, no incidents or injuries relating to this product defect have been reported.

These gas-powered boilers are white, wall-mounted and have “Viessmann” and “Vitodens 200” printed on the exterior in silver letters. The boiler’s model number is located on the silver rating plate on the side of the boiler. For a complete list of Vitodens boiler model numbers, please refer to the CPSC alert. If you own one of these defective boilers, please contact your certified HVAC contractor to open the boiler and locate the serial number. The serial number can be found on a white label on the side of the boiler or under the bottom of the support panel.

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Razor USA has issued a recall of about 30,000 Dirt Quad Electric Power Ride-On Vehicles for a defective control module on it’s throttle, which can fail and cause this off-road all-terrain vehicle to unexpectedly accelerate forward. Such a failure poses a risk of serious injury to the ATV user or a bystander, according to a Sept. 25 article on the watchdog Web site, Consumeraffairs.com. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has also issued an alert about this defective all-terrain vehicle.

Razor USA, which is based in Cerritos, California, has received 60 reports of these vehicles unexpectedly surging forward. Two of these reports involved injuries. This particular recall involves Razor Dirt Quad electrically powered ride-on vehicles. The product ID numbers included in the recall begin with 103110-01 or 103110-02. These numbers are located on the bar code attached to the right step of the vehicle, on the charger and on the retail packaging. Product ID numbers beginning with 103110-03 or later are reportedly not included in this recall. These defective ATVs, which were manufactured in China, were sold by authorized dealers all over the United States between August 2006 and September 2007 for about $400.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has ordered nine manufacturers – including three in California -- to pay more than $350,000 in civil penalties. According to this Aug. 6 CPSC news release, the fines will basically settle allegations that these companies knowingly failed to report their product defects to the federal agency.

Of these firms, the California based-- Cobmex Inc. of Lakewood, Rebelette International Trading Corp. of South El Monte and Siegfried & Parzival Inc. of City of Industry -- manufactured hooded sweatshirts, jackets or sweaters sold with drawstrings at the hood and neck, which posed a strangulation hazard that can cause death to children. The firms eventually recalled these defective children products.

In 1996 the CPSC drafted drawstring guidelines in children’s wear to help prevent choking or strangulation after a young girl in Florida died when the drawstrings on her jacket got caught in the school bus door. In May 2006, CPSC’s Office of Compliance announced that children’s jackets and sweatshirts with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as defective and a substantial risk of injury to young children.

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Sony is recalling about 73,000 VAIO TZ-series defective notebook computers because they can overheat and cause a fire, posing a burn hazard to consumers. According to an article on Consumeraffairs.com, irregularly positioned wires near the computer’s hinge and/or dislodged screws inside the hinge can lead to the overheating problem. So far, the company has received 15 reports of these product defects. One consumer even suffered burn injuries as a result of the overheating.

The notebook computer models that have been recalled include the VAIO VGN-TZ100 series, VGN-TZ200 series, VGN-TZ300 series and VGN-TZ2000 series. The recall is being conducted with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Here’s their safety alert.

Not all units of these models are included in the recall. But those who own any of these laptop models are asked to contact Sony to find out if their laptop is included in the recall. If their unit has been affected, Sony officials say the company will arrange for an inspection, and if needed, a repair. The computers were manufactured in Japan and the United States and sold for prices between $1,700 and $4,000 in SonyStyle stores and their Web site between July 2007 and August 2008.

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Nestle Prepared Foods Company is recalling about 215,660 pounds of frozen stuffed pepperoni pizza sandwiches sold under the brand name, Hot Pockets, according to this news report. Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza is said to contain small pieces of hard red plastic and other “foreign material,” according to a consumer alert issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The manufacturer of these defective food products, based in Kentucky, received four complaints from consumers but so far, no reports of injuries. But USDA officials warn that these recalled products bear the risk of serious injury. A spokeswoman for Nestle says that the hard red plastic and a clear flexible rubber-like material could have splintered off from a testing device and be buried in the food products with sharp edges.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission last week announced a voluntary recall of about 24,000 defective Perfect Flame Double Lid Four Burner gas grills. The recalled prodcuts, with model number GAC3615, were manufactured by Lucas Innovation Inc. of China and sold at Lowe’s home improvement stores in the United States from October 2007 through July 2008 for $300.

The danger posed by these defective grills is pretty serious. The cooking chamber of these gas grills can melt or catch on fire, thereby posing risk of fires and burn injuries to consumers. According to the CPSC alert, so far, there have been reports of 175 grill fires, 25 reports of grills melting. Some of these incidents resulted in property damage, but so far there have been no reports of injuries.

Owners of these grills are asked to stop using the grill immediately, disconnect the propane tank and return the defective products to any Lowe’s store for a full refund.

Consumer Reports’ product recall blog lists two complaints from its own readers relating to these recalled gas grills. One of their complaints cited the recalled model while another cited model number SLG2006, not included in this recall.

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DEWALT, a nail gun manufacturer, has recalled about 14,000 DC608 cordless nail guns, which can cause a hazard to nail gun operators by continuing to operate even in a locked position. According to an article in Consumeraffairs.com, the defective product can continue to operate when the trigger is not pulled and the contact trip is depressed. The unexpected ejection of nails could pose a serious injury hazard to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has also issued a safety alert about these defective products. No injuries have been reported so far. The recall involves the DEWALT DC608 18 Volt Cordless 2’ 18 Guage Straight Brad Nailer with date codes 200728 through 200821. These nailers, manufactured in Mexico, were reportedly sold from October 2007 through May 2008 for about $280.

Those who own and use these products are asked to immediately stop using the nailers and contact DEWALT for the location of the nearest service center. DEWALT will repair these defective nail guns for free. For more information please contact the manufacturer toll-free at 1-866-220-1481 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or please visit the company’s Web site at www.DEWALT.com.

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A faulty backyard barbeque at a residence in the 26700 block of Baronet in Mission Viejo caused an explosion badly injuring three Mission Viejo residents, according to a recent article in The Orange County Register.

Ken Kelly, 50, was barbequing in his backyard with his family close-by when the propane tank connected to the grill exploded. The powerful blast shook neighborhood houses, set off car alarms and destroyed the Kelly family’s backyard. The five-gallon propane tank had reportedly leaked and ignited causing second-degree burns to Ken, burning his daughter Meghan Kelly, 11, and bruising his 78-year old father. The injured are now said to be recovering.

I wish the Kelly family a complete recovery and I’m very thankful the injuries and damages from this explosion were not worse. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated in a 2001U.S. Fire Administration Report that about 150 injuries and 5 deaths occur each year from mostly residential grill fires. Also, each year fire service responds to 6500 grill fires accounting for approximately $28 million in property loss. The NFPA found that “mechanical failure or malfunction is by far the leading ignition factor for grill fires.”

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