Earlier today, the folks at Toyota issued a recall of approximately 283,000 Toyota vehicles — Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Sienna, Solara — and 137,000 Lexus vehicles — ES330, RX330, RX400h — over concerns that a potential problem in these vehicles may suddenly make it much harder for the driver to steer. [More]
recalls
Big Sony Bravia TV Fire Recall Is Only In Japan, But US Models May Be Affected
By 10.12.11
Headlines are blaring about the 1.6 million 40″ Sony Bravia TVs getting recalled for fire and smoke risk, but they’re overlooking a key fact. The recalled models were only sold in Japan. No recall has been issued in America. However, there are 400,000 models that were sold in the US that contain the same component that prompted the Japan recall. Here are the Sony Bravia TV model numbers you should check to see if you have. [More]
168,000 Volkswagens Recalled Because Fuel Isn't Supposed To Leak
By 10.7.11
The volks at Volkswagen have issued a recall on a total of 168,275 Golf, Jetta and Audi A3 vehicles over concerns the fuel line could crack and leak, potentially causing an engine fire. [More]
Man Sues After Eating Listeria-Tainted Cantaloupe
By 10.5.11
Cantaloupe tainted by listeria have led to 13 deaths, and now, a lawsuit against Jensen Farms and Walmart. [More]
Kraft Recalls 137,000 Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups Because Thin Pieces Of Wire Are Not Part Of Your Daily Diet
By 9.30.11
Kraft Foods has announced a recall of three varieties of Velveeta Shells & Cheese single serve microwaveable cups as a precaution due to the “possible presence of small, thin wire bristle pieces.” [More]
This Texas Instruments Calculator Can't Calculate Correctly
By 9.29.11
There’s a basic assumption that consumers have about calculators: that you put numbers in, and the calculator spits answers out. Correct answers. Accurate answers. In the case of the Texas Instruments scientific calculator that John bought recently, he tells Consumerist that this is a false assumption. As false as the answers it gave him for the area of a circle. [More]
131,000 Pounds Of Ground Beef Sold At Kroger Recalled Because E. Coli Doesn't Make For Good Seasoning
By 9.28.11
Tyson Fresh Meats is recalling approximately 131,300 pounds of ground beef products sold at Kroger because of possible E. coli contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. [More]
Honda Recalls CR-V, CR-Z Due To Electrical Problems
By 9.6.11
Honda has announced a recall of 80,111 CR-V vehicles from the 2006 model year, as well as well as 5,626 CR-Z vehicles from the 2011 model year due to electrical issues. The recalled CR-V suffers a design problem in the power window master switch that can lead to a fire due to window cleaner accumulation over time, and the CR-Z is affected by a software bug that could possibly cause the motor to rotate in the opposite direction of the transmission’s gear. [More]
Yet Another Tylenol Recall: 2.5 Million Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Rapid Release Gelcaps
By 9.1.11
The fifth recall of a Tylenol product this year is “Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Rapid Release Gelcaps.” McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson, a family company, said the caps had “slightly higher than expected” levels of chlorpheniramine ammonio acetate (CPAA). The recall encompasses roughly 2.5 million packages. [More]
Philips Recalls 1.86 Million Potentially Plummeting Compact Fluorescent Flood Lamps
By 8.22.11
Philips and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a few weeks ago the recall of about 1.86 million compact fluorescent floodlamps sold under the EnergySaver and Marathon brands between 2007 and 2010. The reflector around the lamp can come unglued, shattering on the ground or floor. This actually happened to a Consumerist reader, who sent in photos of the glass-shard carnage. [More]
54,000 Clip-On Chairs Recalled For Failing To Clip On To Table Tops
By 8.17.11
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and phil&teds USA Inc, of Fort Collins, Co. announced the recall of the company’s metoo Clip-on Chair. The baby seats, designed to attach to table tops, have clamp parts that may fail. Children seated in the chair may fall or possibly have their fingers crushed or amputated by the failing mechanism. [More]
Radio Flyer Recalls 165,000 Scoot 'N Zoom Riding Toys
By 8.16.11
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Radio Flyer in Chicago announced the recall of 165,000 Scoot ‘n Zoom riding toys today because the red plastic toy can tip over while being ridden and that is apparently not the original point of the toy. [More]
60,000 Pounds Of Ground Beef Recalled Because E.Coli Doesn't Make For A Good Burger
By 8.15.11
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a recall of more than 60,000 pounds of ground beef because of possible E. coli contamination. The recalled meat was produced by the Kansas-based National Beef Packing Company and shipped to stores nationwide. [More]
GM Recalls 16,000 2012 Chevy Impala & Buick LaCrosse Vehicles
By 8.12.11
It isn’t even 2012 yet but General Motors is already recalling nearly 12,000 model year 2012 Chevrolet Impalas and more than 4,000 new Buick Lacrosse cars, each for different reasons. [More]
Honda Recalls 1.5 Million Accords, CR-Vs & Elements Over Transmission Concerns
By 8.5.11
Honda has announced a recall of certain model year 2005-2010 4-cylinder Accords, 2007-2010 CR-Vs and 2005-2008 Elements to update the software that controls those vehicles’ automatic transmissions. [More]
300,000 Dodge & Chrysler Minivans Recalled For Possible Airbag Problems
By 8.4.11
Chrysler has recalled 300,000 model year 2008 Dodge Caravan, Chrsyler Grand Voyager and Town & Country minivans in the U.S. over concerns that the airbags on these vehicles could inadvertently deploy, which is hilarious in slapstick comedies but potentially deadly in real life. [More]
CPSC Chair Tenenbaum: We're Not Trying To Play "Gotcha" With Manufacturers
By 8.3.11
Regular readers of Consumerist know that we cover a lot of recalls — from faulty booster seats to wine openers with potentially bloody consequences — many of them announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We recently met with CPSC chair Inez Tenenbaum to discuss how the commission works with manufacturers on everything from the recall process to new standards on lead and drop-side cribs, and why some within the commission are attempting to scuttle its new products database. [More]
Got Questions For The Consumer Product Safety Commission? Ask Away
By 7.21.11
Later this afternoon, I’ll be meeting with Inez Tenenbaum, Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to talk about everything from the process of determining whether or not to issue a product recall to the CPSC’s work in getting lead paint off kids’ toys to opponents’ attempts to gut the just-created recall database. [More]
