‘Tis the season for millions of American consumers and families to start hitting stores and start helping “Santa” along with some toy distribution efforts. But while folks are out shopping to stuff stockings, consumer advocates warn: stay clear of potentially deadly recalled toys — and know what to do if you end up with any. [More]
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This Holiday, Make Sure You Don’t Give Kids The Gift Of Exploding Batteries Or Lead Poisoning
By 11.22.16
Samsung Recalls 2.8 Million Top-Loading Washing Machines Because You Shouldn’t Break Your Jaw Doing The Laundry
By 11.4.16
Back in September, federal safety regulators advised owners of Samsung washing machine owners to go easy on their heavy laundry loads after several folks had complained about violent, almost explosive, vibrations. Now, more than a month later, Samsung is recalling nearly 3 million machines and disclosing that these washers have done some significant damage to users — like breaking one person’s jaw. [More]
After $4.8M In Property Damage, Millions Of Dehumidifiers Recalled
By 11.3.16
Dehumidifiers are meant to protect homes from mold and mildew, not burn them down. Yet, that’s apparently a possibility for 3.4 million dehumidifiers — covering dozens of brands, including GE, Honeywell, Kenmore, and Sunbeam — that are being recalled after being linked to $4.8 million in property damage. [More]
Why Don’t Carriers Just Kick The Galaxy Note 7 Off Their Networks?
By 10.13.16
Even when a recall is heavily publicized, not all of the items are recovered and returned to the manufacturer. That may be the case with the Galaxy Note 7, a smartphone that has a small chance of suddenly exploding for reasons that even the manufacturer still doesn’t fully understand. So why don’t phone carriers just block the devices from their networks, or why doesn’t Samsung remotely brick the devices to force customers to stop using them? Turns out that’s a tricky legal and ethical issue. [More]
Samsung Officially Recalls All Galaxy Note 7 Phones, Including Replacement Devices
By 10.13.16
Not even two months after Samsung first released the Galaxy Note 7, the phone has already been recalled and replaced, only to be discontinued. Now, for the second time in five weeks, Samsung and U.S. safety regulators have issued an official recall covering all Galaxy Note 7 phones. [More]
U.S. Safety Regulators: Power Down Your Replacement Galaxy Note 7s
By 10.10.16
First, Samsung halted production on the non-recalled Galaxy Note 7, then all the wireless providers and Best Buy stop selling the phone. Now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is saying that folks who have one of these devices should power them down while the agency investigates new reports of exploding and overheating phones. [More]
Federal Safety Regulators Investigating Report Of Replacement Samsung Note 7 Catching Fire
By 10.5.16
Earlier today, a Southwest Airlines flight from Louisville to Baltimore had to be evacuated after smoke and fire began to spew out of a Samsung Galaxy Note 7, one that was replaced and should not have had an overheating battery. Now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has confirmed that it is looking into this incident. [More]
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Recall Is Finally Official
By 9.15.16
In late August, Samsung began delaying shipments of new Galaxy Note 7 phones amid reports of exploding and overheating devices. Then right before Labor Day it informally declared a sort-of recall without going through official channels or offering a proven remedy for the flaw. Now, two weeks later, the company has finally made the high-profile recall official. [More]
Samsung Explains Battery Flaw Behind Overheated, Exploding Galaxy Note 7
By 9.13.16
Even though the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has — as of Tuesday morning — yet to be officially recalled in the U.S., we now have a slightly better idea of the underlying flaw in the device’s battery that has resulted in dozens of incidents of Note 7s overheating or exploding. [More]
Samsung Phone Reportedly Explodes In Hand Of 6-Year-Old
By 9.12.16
UPDATE: The NY Post has revised — without any mention of a correction — its original story to now clarify that the phone involved in this incident was not a Note 7, but apparently a lesser-known Samsung Galaxy phone, the Core Prime. We have corrected the story below to reflect this important change. [More]
Samsung Changes Galaxy Note 7 Box After Non-Recall; Database Coming Next Week
By 9.9.16
Despite what headlines might say, the occasionally-exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has not yet been recalled. Samsung has a “product exchange program” for owners of the device, and stores have been told not to sell it, but an official recall through the Consumer Products Safety Commission hasn’t yet happened. However, Samsung has announced how you’ll be able to tell which phones have the purportedly defective battery and which don’t. [More]
Starbucks Recalling 2.5M Stainless Steel Straws Because They’re Cutting Kids’ Mouths
By 8.2.16
While it might be refreshing to drink a refreshing cold beverage delivered by an equally cold metal straw, it’s much less enjoyable when that straw becomes a stabby thing that can cut your mouth. [More]
Company Recalls Children’s Water Bottles Sold At L.L. Bean For Containing High Levels Of Lead
By 7.20.16
A company called GSI Outdoors is recalling about 6,700 kids’ insulated water bottles sold exclusively at L.L. Bean stores. Why? Because children shouldn’t be handling toxic lead. [More]
Listen To A Guy With Experience Talk About Fireworks Safety
By 6.30.16
This holiday weekend, many Americans will no doubt be in the mood to celebrate Independence Day with brightly colored fireworks that go “whiz!” and “bang!” and make us all proud we got rid of the British early on. But no matter how fun fireworks can be, they can also be very, very dangerous. To bring that message home, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is sharing the story of how he lost part of his hand in a firework accident [More]
Safety Advocates Applaud IKEA Recall, Hope Consumers Return Or Anchor Dressers
By 6.28.16
Safety advocates were deeply disappointed earlier this year when the news came that another child was killed that the very popular Malm dresser from IKEA fell on top of him. It’s horrible every time that an ordinary household object kills someone, but this model of dresser was part of a voluntary repair program that IKEA wouldn’t call a recall. Now the dressers have been officially recalled, but that should have happened before another child died. [More]
IKEA Will Stop Selling Dressers Prone To Tipping Over, Recall 29M Units
By 6.27.16
IKEA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are taking an unusual and perhaps unprecedented step, recalling tens of millions of top-heavy Malm dressers and chests. While IKEA offered repair kits and wall anchors to customers, the message clearly wasn’t getting out that they have been recalled in the United States. [More]
New Legislation Targets Deadly Furniture Tip-Overs
By 6.9.16
Each year, some 25,000 Americans — mostly children — are injured or killed from furniture and other household appliances that tip over or fall because they are not properly secured. A new piece of legislation aims to reduce these potentially deadly incidents by establishing sturdier minimum standards. [More]
CPSC Recalls Kids’ Jewelry Kits With Cra-Z Amount Of Lead
By 6.2.16
Last month, an investigation by New York state’s attorney general turned up craft kits marketed to children with 10 times the acceptable level of lead. While state attorneys general don’t have the power to order a recall, the AG forwarded the information to the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the distributors and retailers of the product. Today, the distributor announced a recall of the craft kits. [More]
