North Carolina Product Liability Blog : North Carolina Product Liability Lawyer & Attorney : D. Hardison Wood : Toy Safety, Child Restraint, Car Seats

The end of January not only brought the first month of 2013 to a close but also meant numerous recalls being announced by the CPSC.

Triaminic and Theraflu products were recalled due their lack of child resistant packaging.

These child-resistant caps can fail to function properly and enable the cap to be removed by a child with the tamper-evident seal in place, posing a risk of unintentional ingestion and poisoning.

 

Megafood Daily One Supplements manufactured by FoodState also was recalled due to lack of child resistant packaging.

The packaging is not child-resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act.

Nanospheres Magnetic Desk Toys made by Kringles Toys and Gifts, and Magnet Balls Manipulative Magnet Sets made by SCS Direct and both sold exclusively by Amazon.com, was recalled due to the hazard magnet indigestion poses for children. If two or more magnets are ingested they can link together causing severe damage or perforation to the intestines.

World Imports issued a recall to their bunks beds due to a safety violation.

The openings between the metal rails of the end structures are greater than allowed in the standard and pose a risk of entrapment or asphyxiation hazard.

The recall of the beds extended to approximately 8,600 units.

To see all recent recalls visit the CPSC website.

 

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NHTSA announced that in 2012 manufactures filed more than 650 safety recalls which in essence affected more than 17,8 million vehicles, child safety seats, or vehicle equipment.

Most of the recalls were initiated by consumer complaints according to the announcement.

Many recalls are initiated by consumer complaints. In 2012, NHTSA received 41,912 complaints concerning potential safety defects, 49,417 in 2011, and 65,765 in 2010. "The role of the consumer in influencing auto recalls cannot be under-estimated," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "Consumers are the lifeblood of the recall process and recalls are often the direct result of a government investigation into consumer complaints."

 

Recalls are an extremely important safety issue. It is vital that consumers are made aware of dangerous products in order to prevent serious injury. In order to review the entire announcement click here.

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Peg Perego is recalling 223,000 strollers due to a risk of strangulation. The recall follows the death of a 6 month old boy from California whose head became entrapped between the seat and the tray. A 7 month old girl from NY also became entrapped when her head was stuck between the seat and the tray in 2006.

The strollers involved are older.

 

The recall involves two different older versions of the Peg Perego strollers, Venezia and Pliko-P3, manufactured between January 2004 and September 2007, in a variety of colors. They were manufactured prior to the existence of the January 2008 voluntary industry standard which addresses the height of the opening between the stroller's tray and the seat bottom. The voluntary standard requires larger stroller openings that prevent infant entrapment and strangulation hazards.

Only strollers that have a child tray with one cup holder are part of this recall. Strollers with a bumper bar in front of the child or a tray with two cup holders are not included in this recall.
 

To read the entire notice from the CPSC click here.

Kolcraft has also announced a recall of approximately 5600 strollers after receiving reports of the front wheel assembly breaking which can pose a fall hazard. To read the notice click here.

The front wheel assembly can break, posing a fall hazard to the child in the stroller. In addition, for strollers manufactured in January and February 2012, the nuts that hold the stroller's basket support screws in place can detach. Detached nuts can pose a choking hazard to young children.

The recall involves the Contours Options LT Tandem strollers with model number ZT012.

 

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Ford has issued a recall of certain  2013 Escapes with 1.6 liter engines. Ford is warning customers not to drive these vehicles. There is a potential of a fuel line leak which could result in a fire.

Ford Motor Co. is advising owners of an estimated 11,500 new Escapes to park their vehicles until they can be repaired by dealers due to potential fuel line leaks that could cause fires. Unlike most recalls where makers may take up to a month to notify owners and begin repairs, Ford is urging immediate action in this case [Read more]

Honda has issued a recall of 321,000 CR-Vs from the 21012 model year and an additional 7,300 MY 2013 Acura ILX vehicles.

Honda says that if the inside driver or passenger door handles are used at the same time as the power or manual door locks, the inner door latch may not work. This means a door may not latch, or it could latch and open when the locks are used. [Read more]

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Juke. Due to an improper weld penetration the rear seat back striker may separate during a crash. Read the report from NHTSA.

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The number one killer of Americans under the age of 34 is injuries suffered from car crashes. Some of these crashes are the result of a defect or a safety standard missing in the automobile they are driving or riding in. The Department of  Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the organization which issues safety standards and also requires manufacturers to recall defective products such as cars, car seats, tires, etc. They also can issue a recall for those products that not meet the safety standards as set forth.

So when is a recall required? When the vehicle or other product does not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or when there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle or equipment. Some examples are:

-Steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control.
-Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, that result in leakage of fuel and possibly cause vehicle fires.
-Accelerator controls that may break or stick.
-Wheels that crack or break, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
- Engine cooling fan blades that break unexpectedly causing injury to persons working on a vehicle.
-Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate properly.
-Seats and/or seat backs that fail unexpectedly during normal use.
- Critical vehicle components that break, fall apart, or separate from the vehicle, causing potential loss of vehicle control or injury to persons inside or outside the vehicle.
-Wiring system problems that result in a fire or loss of lighting.
-Car ramps or jacks that may collapse and cause injury to someone working on a vehicle.
-Air bags that deploy under conditions for which they are not intended to deploy.
-Child safety seats that contain defective safety belts, buckles, or components that create a risk of injury, not only in a vehicle crash but also in non-operational safety of a motor vehicle.
 

For more information on the investigative and recall process or to download NHTSA's booklet on recalls go here. If you believe you have a safety related defect and would like to report it to NHTSA the hotline is 1-888-327-4236 or 1-800-424-9393 or you can go online to www.safecar.gov.

To read more on FMVSS go here.

 

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The CPSC announced today that nine different manufactures and distributors are recalling more than 2 million units of pourable gel fuel due to serious burn injury risks. The recall involves:

Bird Brain Inc., Bond Manufacturing, Sunjel Company, Fuel Barons, Inc., Lamplight Farms, inc., Luminosities, Inc., Pacific Decor Ltd., Real Flame, and Smart Solar Inc.

The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. CPSC is aware of 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns of the face, chest, hands, arms or legs.

 

Of the 65 incidents, 28 of them, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June 2011, in cooperation with CPSC. Also in June, CPSC issued a press statement alerting consumers to the hazards of pourable gel fuels. All pourable gel fuel, regardless of manufacturer, poses flash fire hazards. (More)

The product has been reportedly sold since 2008 and ranged in price from $5 to $20.

If you have suffered burn from a product defect, protect your legal rights. Contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood so we may investigate if a product defect exists. Call us 919.233.0520.

 

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NHTSA is investigating if there is a problem with the fuel tanks on over 2.7 million Ford F-150 pick up trucks.

he National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that the steel straps holding up the truck's gas tank can rust and break, possibly causing a fuel spill and fire. (story)

At this time NHTSA has not stated whether it will request that Ford issue a recall.

NHTSA is investigating trucks from model year 1997 through 2001. According to reports NHTSA had received over 32 complaints which prompted the investigation. Currently Ford and NHTSA have received 243 reports of falling fuel tanks.

NHTSA said there was fuel leakage in 95 of the reported incidents. Nine reported sparks when the tank dropped on the road, which would increase the likelihood of a fire.

This follows on the heels of a recall affecting 1.2 million F-150  because of  air bag problems.

The F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for more than three decades. It's been the subject of recent sniping between NHTSA and Ford because of air bags that could deploy at the wrong time. Ford announced in February that it would fix 150,000 F-150s for that problem, but under pressure from regulators, it expanded the recall to 1.2 million trucks last month. In that case, there were 98 reported injuries because of the problem. (Story)

If you have suffered a personal injury due to a defect or negligence of another, contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood at 919.233.0520 so we may discuss protecting your legal rights.

 

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Ford has announced that is it is recalling 400,000 Windstar models in "cold weather" states to resolve a bracket issue which could cause the vehicle to become unstable and the driver lose control.

Ford is recalling more than 400,000 Windstar minivans in cold-weather states to fix brackets and mounts which could separate from the vehicle's subframe and could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The recall involves 425,288 minivans from the 1999-2003 model years sold or registered in 22 states and the District of Columbia. (article)

Toyota has also issued a recall today involving over 1.7 million cars.

Toyota recalled nearly 1.7 million cars worldwide Wednesday for fuel leaks, the latest in a ballooning number of quality problems that could add another dent to its tarnished reputation in the crucial U.S. market.

In one of the problems announced Wednesday, an improper installation of a sensor to measure fuel pressure may cause the sensor to loosen as a result of engine vibration over time, and possibly cause fuel leakage, the company said. That problem also affects 280,000 Lexus cars sold abroad, 255,000 of them in North America and 10,000 in Europe. (article)

If you have suffered a personal injury due to a product defect or because of another's negligence, contact the Law Office of. D. Hardison Wood today! 919.233.0520

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Japan's third largest automaker, Nissan, has issued a recall of approximately 605,000 vehicles because of flaws in the steering-column shaft and batteries.

The recalls include about 303,000 Frontier pickup trucks, 283,000 Xterra sport-utility vehicles and 18,500 Sentra cars, primarily in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil

About 85 percent of the vehicles were sold in the U.S., the carmaker said. Read more

 

 

Product defects such as the one found in the Nissan vehicles, can often times lead to a crash resulting in bodily injury. If you have been adversely affected by a product defect resulting in personal injuries contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood today at 919-233-0520.

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As the holidays approach a new report, as published by the CPSC, states toy recalls are declining however toy injuries are on the increase.

While recalls and deaths have declined, new statistics from CPSC released today show that toy-related injuries are increasing. In 2009, there were an estimated 186,000 emergency room-treated injuries related to toys with children younger than 15, which is up from 152,000 injuries in 2005. Frequently these injuries involved lacerations, contusions, and abrasions that most often occurred to a child’s face and head. Importantly many of the incidents were associated with, but not necessarily caused by, a toy.

 

Children receive personal injuries from many different sources, it is not just limited to toys. However, a new focus has been placed on toys with hundreds of catalogs arriving in the mail and parents starting to do their holiday shopping, the CPSC has published a few safety tips in an effort to try to limit the child injuries. Some of those include:

-Choosing age appropriate toys.

-Wear safety gear

- Be aware of the child's surroundings i.e. don't play near pools, open roads, near corded blinds, etc.

Here are some additional safety steps that consumers can take while shopping this holiday season:

* Scooters and other Riding Toys – Riding toys, skateboards, and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times and be sized to fit.

* Small Balls and other Toys with Small Parts – For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.

* Balloons - Children can choke or suffocate on deflated or broken balloons. Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than eight years old. Discard broken balloons at once.

* Magnets – For children under age six, avoid building or play sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur. Read the full notice

If your child has suffered a personal injury in Cary, Raleigh, Durham or elsewhere in North Carolina, contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood at 919-233-0520 today!

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The CPSC announced this week that another type of baby hammock has been recalled due to a suffocation hazard. MamaLittle Helper, LLC manufactures the hammocks. The side to side motion can cause the baby to roll and become entrapped.

The side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause the infant to roll and become entrapped or wedged against the hammock's fabric and/or mattress pad, resulting in a suffocation hazard. Read the notice here

 

The CPSC recommends to immediately stop using this product. Approximately 500 units have been recalled.

If your child has suffered an injury, contact to the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood to preserve their legal rights. Call 919-233-0520.

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Last month Nissan recalled approximately 46,000- 51,000 Cubes. They were recalled because during crash tests the amount of fuel that leaked from the rear was more than allowed by Federal Standards.

Nissan is recalling 51,100 of its Cube hatchbacks in the United States and Canada because of possible problems with fuel spilling during rear end collisions.

In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan Motor Co. said Monday tests conducted by NHTSA safety regulators found more fuel spilled than federal standards allow. The spillage occurred during rear end crash tests at 50 miles per hour where the vehicle also spun onto its side. Read Article

 

On August 9, 2010 Nissan has again announced a recall, this time because some of its Frontier models fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety  Standard (FMVSS) 225. FMVSS 225 has to do with child restraint systems. The welding on the tether anchor, in this instance, could separate from the seat. NHTSA

It is important to remember that Federal Safety Standards are MINIMUM requirements that manufacturers have to meet. So failure to meet these minimum requirements is putting a vehicle in the marketplace that absolutely should not be there.

And let's not overlook the 540,000 Nissan cars that were recalled due to brake pedal issues and possible fuel gauge problems in March of this year.

the recall covers "the Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56 built from 2005 to 2008, and the Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra produced between January and March 2006 and between October 2007 and January 2008

If you have been injured and would like to discuss a potential legal claim please contact the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood at 919-233-0520.

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Toyota is facing a mounting pile of problems to mend in 2010. Due to the rising number of recalls, and the dangerous nature of these defective products, Toyota customers are wise to stay informed and up-to-date as to the status of their vehicle.

The following are the latest two recalls from Toyota:

-Toyota Camry 2010 models are being recalled due to a series of insufficient parts which, under certain circumstances, could puncture the brake tube, impacting the vehicle’s braking capabilities and increasing the risk of a crash. There are 7,314 potentially affected vehicles.

Toyota will notify owners of potentially affected vehicles, and if needed, dealers will replace or adjust the faulty brake tube at no charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

The full recall summary can be found here.

-Toyota is also recalling approximately 148,549 2010 Prius and Lexus models. These vehicles have braking inconsistencies, leading to increased stopping distances, which creates the potential for a crash. The remedy will require a rewrite of the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) control program, and will be free of charge to customers.

Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987 for more information. Owners may also call the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov.

A full summary of this recall can be viewed here.

If you have suffered injuries as a result of the malfunctioning vehicles listed above, or from any of the many recent Toyota recalls, please contact our office immediately at 1-877-829-7211 to discuss your potential case.

/ab

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued another recall for elliptical trainers. These exercise machines have become a common item in many American homes. Please check to be sure this recall does not affect you.

The Commission, along with distributor Johnson Health Tech North America, Inc., have recalled about 18,000 elliptical trainers. The brand names included in this recall are Horizon Fitness and LIVESTRONG Fitness Elliptical Trainers. There have been 58 reports of the pedal becoming disengaged from the machine. There have been no injuries reported thus far.

If you own a Horizon Fitness or LIVESTRONG Elliptical Trainer that was purchased between October 2009 and November 2009, please look for your model number, which is located on the top of the console display, and the serial number, located on the front of the machine. Then check here to find out if your model is listed under the recalled models. If it is, stop using the elliptical trainer immediately and call Johnson Heath Tech NA at 1-800-962-3596 for a free in-home pedal replacement.

If you have been injured by this defective product, please call our office immediately to discuss your potential case.

/ab

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On January 29, 2010, Honda announced a worldwide recall for 646,000 of their Honda Fit (Jazz if sold outside the U.S.) models. Of these, 141,000 were purchased in the U.S. The models included in this recall are the first generation Honda Fit, sold in 2007-2008.

This recall is due to reports that water or liquid can leak into the vehicle’s master switch through the window and/or door-lock switches, creating the potential for the switches to overheat, melt, smoke and even catch fire. Honda spokesman Chuck Schifsky says, “There have been 7 confirmed cases in the U.S. In two cases those have involved fires.” No injuries or deaths have been reported thus far.

Honda plans to correct the problem by replacing the switch on the driver’s side door, or by installing a waterproof skirt. Owners of recalled Honda Fits should be conscious of leaving car windows open until the appropriate remedy can be administered to their vehicle. Open windows could easily allow rainwater to come in, and leak into the faulty switches.

Owners should contact Honda Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009 for more information and further instructions.

If these defective switches have resulted in your injury, please call our office immediately at 1-877-829-7211 to discuss your legal options.
 

 

/ab

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January, so far, has proven to be a month of major recalls involving child products. While it is a positive sign that these products are being recalled, the major concern is people who own these products will not hear about the recall and will continue to use these dangerous products with their children. The fact that these unsafe products are making it into the marketplace is a huge issue.

Graco announced a recall of nearly 1.5 million strollers due to a potential finger amputation risk. The Graco Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems were involved in this recall. The hinges on the stroller’s canopy posed a dangerous risk to children’s fingers, either leading to fingertip amputation or serious laceration. The specific model numbers can be found here.

In addition, to Graco’s recall, Dorel Asia cribs recalled approximately 635,000 cribs due to an entrapment and strangulation risk with their cribs. The drop sides of the cribs have hardware which could fail, causing the drop side to fall, leaving space where a child can become entrapped, suffocate or be strangled. The damage can occur at anytime, in use, in storage, or even while it is being shipped or assembled. A list of the affected models can be found here. Immediately stop using the crib and find an alternative, safer sleeping environment.
 

If your child has suffered injuries from a product failure, please contact us immediately. call 24/7 at 1-877-829-7211.

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The CPSC held a town hall meeting in New York this week to discuss toy safety and the new federal regulations involving toys. Chairman Tenebaum is hoping that the new standards instituted this year will help parents, grandparents and others in their toy selections this holiday season. Some of the new regulations over the past year are:

* federal limits for lead in paint on children's toys dropped to 90 parts per million, which is among the lowest in the world;

* toys for children 12 and younger must now be tested and certified that they meet the new lead in paint limits;

* children's toys cannot be made or sold with more than 300 parts per million of total lead;

* children's toys cannot be made or sold with more than 0.1% of six prohibited phthalates;

* and most children's toys now fall under mandatory standards, instead of voluntary ones.
 

At the town hall meeting, some stats for the past two years were discussed.

So far in calendar year 2009, CPSC has had 38 toy recalls, which is down from 162 in 2008 and 148 in 2007. Toy recalls involving lead paint are also down. This year there has been 14 recalls involving lead, down from 63 in 2007 and 85 in 2008. CPSC attributes this decline to increased enforcement at the ports, cooperation with other nations, consumer awareness and education and compliance by the industry with new federal safety rules.

For 2008, the Commission has reports of 19 toy-related deaths and about 172,700 hospital emergency room treated toy-related injuries  to children under 15. Almost half of these injuries, approximately 82,300 were to children younger than 5 years of age. Most of the deaths were associated with drowning, motor vehicle involvement, or airway obstruction from a small toy or small part of a toy.
 

If your child has suffered an injury, please contact our office to discuss your potential legal matter. We can be reached toll-free 1-877-829-7211 or by email contact@hardisonwood.com.

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There have been some new recalls and defect investigations by NHTSA involving auto manufacturers. With these recalls, the auto manufacturers are required to make the repairs at their own cost. Some of the latest recalls involve Subaru. Approximately 15,000 model year 2005 - 2006 Baja vehicles have been recalled due to fuel pump issues which could cause a fuel leak.

Honda has recalled recalled about 440,000 vehicles including certain Accords, Civics, and Acura TLs because the air inflator on the driver's side could producr too much pressure possibly ending metal shards through the air bag.

In Japan, Honda recalled 1,532 Saber and Inspire vehicles due to a fatal incident in the United States. There have been reports of seven incidents where metal fragments flew through air bags in certain Hinda vehicles. The seven incidents included Accords and Civics. Honda recalled the inspire and Sabre models in Japan because they use the same type of air bag that is used on the Civic and Accord.

And, NHTSA is taking a second look at a previous recall of 2005 Chryselr and Dodge minivans to determine if the recall worked. They had previously been recalled due to corrosion on the air bag sensors casuing the sensors to stop working.

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Recalls of children's furniture and products abounds this month.

Evenflo recalled their Majestic highchairs due to fall and choking hazards:

Hazard: Plastic caps and metal screws on both sides of the high chair can loosen and fall out, posing both fall and choking hazards to children. Plastic caps and screws that become loose and fall out can cause the seatback to suddenly fall back or detach from the high chair. Children can fall out or collide with objects and suffer broken bones, abrasions, cuts and bruises. Detached plastic caps and metal screws also pose a choking hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: Evenflo has received 140 reports of seatbacks reclining, falling back and/or detaching unexpectedly, which resulted in at least 47 reports of bumps and bruises to the head, two reports of broken bones, and at least 45 reports of other injuries including abrasions, cuts, and bruises. Evenflo has received more than 1,000 reports of plastic caps and screws falling out of the high chairs, including seven incidents in which caps and screws were found in children’s hands or mouths but were removed before choking occurred.

 

For more information on the Evenflo Majestic high chair recall please see the CPSC website here.

Lead paint is still a major issue with multiple products. As you look for furniture or holiday gifts for your children, please keep that in mind.

As a matter of fact, today, Munire recalled approximately 3,000 cribs and 6,000 pieces of matching furniture in the Newport Rubbed Black editions due to lead violations.

Hazard: The red paint which is underneath the black finish paint on some of the cribs and matching furniture exceeds federal lead limits. If ingested by young children lead can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: Munire has received one report of a child ingesting the paint. The child was diagnosed with lead poisoning.

For more information on this crib/furniture recall visit the CPSC website here.

In addition, Woodstock Percussion Inc.recalled approximately 2,800 toy drums due to a lead paint violation.

Hazard: Surface paint on the recalled toy drums contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

To read the full notice, please click here.

Last week, Xtreme Toy Zone recalled about 480 toy dinosaurs due to a lead paint standards violation.

Hazard: Surface paint on the toy dinosaurs can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Read the full notice here.

 

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It seems lately we have been hearing more and more form victims of car fires. GM has announced that they are recalling 42,408 Saturn Vues. The recall is due to

a potential leak of power steering fluid that could cause a fire

Apparently this recall affects model year vehicles from 2008-2009 with 6 cylinders.

The recall covers a group of Saturn Vues from the 2008 and 2009 model years that are equipped with six-cylinder engines. GM said dealers would inspect and tighten the nut and check the fluid level as needed.

The report says there have been no reported injuries from this product defect, which brings up another very important point. Should you ever have a product defect you should always report it. Even if there are no injuries, it is important the defects are reported so that investigations can take place, and if a product proves to be unsafe, the public is made aware. If you need to report a defect, the link to the Office of Defects Investigation is:http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

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The US CPSC has warned parents against using the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 bedside sleepers after two infants became caught between the metal bars and died. Apparently, the bars are wider apart than the mandated maximum of 2 3/8 inches. However, according to the report,  the warning was issued rather than a recall because the company which purchased Simplicity in April has not been cooperating with a recall. The new owner maintains they are not responsible for products previously manufactured before their acquisition of the company.

The agency said in an announcement that it issued the alert because SFCA Inc., the company that purchased Simplicity in April, "has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity," the announcement said.

 

We see this all the time in our product defect cases where one company has purchased another and we have a claim. The first defense they throw up is that they are not liable for anything previously manufactured. Of course, that is something they always have to prove.

In the interim, parents, if you have any questions regarding this product, please contact the CPSC hotline, 800-638-2772 or their website at cpsc.gov.

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Car fires are much more common that some may think. And frankly, quite often, there is truly a defect in the automobile that caused them. This time the recall involves more GM cars. According to the report GM is recalling 857,735 vehicles, including

2007-2008 model year Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Saturn Outlook; 2006-2008 Hummer H2, Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne; and the 2008 Buick Enclave

According to the report, federal safety regulators said there was a potential for a short circuit in the wiper system which could lead to electrical malfunctions, smoke or raise the potential for a car fire.

In  another GM recall...

88,809 2008-model year Buick Enclave, and 2007-2008 model year GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook SUVs in 28 states and Washington, D.C

are being recalled. That recall is due to the fact a buildup of snow and ice can cause a restriction in the windshield wiper movement and cause the motor to detach from the windshield arm.

If you have been hurt by a product defect in your automobile, the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood would like to discuss your matter with you.

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Below are a few  safety defect and non compliance notices received in the month of May 2008. The entire report may be accessed here.

False Park:
    GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS CONDITION, COUPLED WITH NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES, COULD LEAD TO FAILURE, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION IN 'PARK' POSITION.

Brake Failure:
    CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 1,585 MY 2007-2008 JEEP WRANGLER, RIGHT HAND DRIVE ONLY, VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND REAR BRAKE TUBES. Consequence:
PROLONGED BRAKE TUBE CONTACT COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE TUBE AND CAUSE A PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Engine Bolt:
VOLVO IS RECALLING 102 MY 2008 XC90 AND S80 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT BOLTS TO THE ENGINE MOUNT.Consequence:
THE ALUMINUM BRACKET FOR THE ENGINE MOUNT COULD BREAK DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE CLAMPING FORCE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SUB-FRAME, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN A REDUCED ENGINE TORQUE OR STALLING OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

These are just a few examples of the  vehicle recalls  in the month  of May,  there  were many more.we  encourage you to read the entire report.

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Cranium board games have been recalled due to excessive lead paint in the die of certain lot numbers. The notice follows below. A note, this games is sold at  some  specialty children's  stores such  as Learning Express  in addition  to  the the  stores  listed in the  notice.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cranium Cadoo Board Games

Units: About 38,000

Importer: Cranium Inc., of Seattle, Wash.

Hazard: The surface paint on the die contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: Only the die found in Cranium Cadoo board games with lot numbers 2007195 through 2007244 are included in the recall. The Cranium Cadoo game is packaged in a square cardboard box with an orange background. The seven digit lot number is printed under the plastic tray on the bottom half of the box.

Sold at: Fred Meyer, Kmart, Shopko, Wal-Mart and specialty game stores nationwide between October 2007 through January 2008 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately dispose of the die and contact Cranium Inc. to receive a free replacement die.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Cranium Inc. at (877) 272- 6486 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.cranium.com

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Over 2007 the list of  recalls seemed to be  endless, especially the   last  half  of  the  year with the numerous  recalls  involving children's products and  toys. We deal with unsafe products in our  products liability practice constantly. But we too, as a firm, look to  the CPSC to be a monitor for products and issue recalls when they are  proven to be  defective or unsafe. Here is there report for 2007  describe the commission and its structure.

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We are currently investigating Nissan recalls involving 2005 and 2006 production years for the Altima and Sentra models. This recall is obviously very interesting.

TOKYO, Nov 22, 2007; Chang-Ran Kim writing for Reuters reported that Japan's Nissan Motor Co said on Thursday it will recall 713,986 Altima and Sentra cars in North America, mostly in the United States, because their engines may suddenly stop running.

Affected models are 2002 and 2005-2006 Altimas and Sentras with 2.5-litre engines. The crankshaft position sensor can overheat and briefly stop sending signals, possibly causing the engine to stop.

Nissan filed a recall of 622,634 Altimas and 28,373 Sentras in the United States, a spokeswoman in Tokyo said. The rest were sold in Canada and Mexico.

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On Friday, almost 600,000 Dodge vans and trucks were recalled due to the cars shifting out of park without the  key in  the ignition. As the  following report states - use the parking brake at all times.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- -- Chrysler said Friday it is recalling nearly 600,000 Dodge trucks and vans to address concerns that the vehicles could shift out of park without the key in the ignition.

The recall affects 576,417 2001-2002 Dodge Dakota trucks, Dodge Durango sport utility vehicles and Dodge Ram vans and the 2002 Dodge Ram pickup. In some cases, long-term wear on the gearshift assembly could erode the height of the shift blocker, creating the potential for the vehicle to shift out of park.

Chrysler spokesman Max Gates said there have been nine incidents involving injuries connected to the issue. No fatalities have been reported, he said in an e-mail.

Owners will be notified beginning in January 2008 and dealers will replace the gearshift blocker and bracket assembly.

In the interim, vehicle owners are advised to use the parking brake at all times when the vehicle is not in use, Gates said.

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Approximately 1 million simplicity  cribs were recalled earlier this week.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., of about 1 million cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants. CPSC is aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down. CPSC is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.

What is most frustrating about this recall  to  me, is that the first death occurred over  two and a half years ago. It appears that two deaths occurred with older hardware, and a third death  has  now occurred with  the  newer hardware.  The question arises...what took so long to have this investigated? Read the announcement here.

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Mattel issued yet another round of recalls.  This recall involved toys that may contain lead paint as well as toys that have  magnets that cause serious digestive problems if children swallow them. The recall includes the popular "Cars" characters, Polly Pockets and  more.  Please view the latest recall notices for more information, and please be extremely cautious. If you think your child may have been exposed to lead paint please consult with your child's doctor.  We will be one of the millions of families combing through our toys determining whether or not what we have was affected by the massive recalls.

Polly Pocket Recall

Doggie Day Care Recall

Barbie and Tanner Recall

Die Cast Toy Cars Recall

Batman Recall

For further information visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission.

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Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. recalled some of their  tires. It has been reported that certain Cooper Load Range E Dominator Sport A/T tires, size LT265/75R16E, manufactured between 7/2/02 and 3/20/05.  Apparently the tread can separate from the tire casing. This can lead to a vehicle crash.  Cooper will notify owners and replace the tires free of charge.  The recall was expected to start on 7/10/07.  cooper's customer relations  number is 800-774-6560.

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