The U.S. Consumer Produces Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued two recalls for defective gas boilers due to carbon monoxide hazards.  Although no incidents or injuries have been reported, if there is a leak in the vent piping, the recalled boilers can leak carbon monoxide (CO) into the buildings in which they are installed, posing a risk of CO poisoning.  Both recalls involve cast iron, gas-fired boilers, manufactured in the United States and used for space heating.

In the first recall, Weil-McLain of Michigan City, Indiana—in collaboration with the CPSC—is voluntarily recalling about 1,800 Williamson-Thermoflo GWS and GWI Gas Boilers.  Williamson-Thermoflo GWS and GWI Gas Boilers recalled with the following model names and serial numbers:  Model Names: GWS-127 and GWS-158; Serial Numbers: From CP 5160092 through CP 5663040 and Model Name: GWI-063, GWI-095, GWI-127, and GWI-158; Serial Numbers: From CP 4363986 through CP 5699844.  The model name and serial number can be found on separate labels on the outside of the left panel of Williamson-Thermoflo GWS and GWI Gas Boilers. (more…)

Toyota is recalling around 90,000 Highlander Sport Utility Vehicles because of defective safety belts that can interfere with the proper operation of rear facing child safety seats. This is the latest quality issue to beset Toyota, which faces at least one lawsuit involving another type of seatbelt, as well as a whistleblower lawsuit charging the company covered up safety issues.

According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this latest recall involves 90,000 model year 2008 Highlander and Highlander hybrid sport utility vehicles. The NHTSA discovered during compliance testing that the locking mechanism on the Highlander seat belts cannot secure properly when certain rear-facing child safety seats are used, which could cause the child seats to move. However, the NHTSA said the belt would still lock securely during an accident. (more…)

Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of some of its Super Duty pickup trucks because of a faulty gas tank.  Ford says that defective mounting on the tanks need to be strengthened to prevent a gasoline leak in a head-on crash.  Meanwhile, Ford says a massive recall of vehicles with faulty cruise control switches is nearly complete, but at least one consumer website says the switches are still a danger.

The Ford Super Duty truck pickup recall covers 65,000 2008 F-250 and F-350 trucks, Ford said in a letter posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  Ford dealers will add a bracket to help secure the fuel tank, at no charge to motorists. Owners will be notified beginning in late May when the parts are  available.  Ford said the affected trucks are F-250 and F-350 4×4 models with a single set of rear wheels and a 156-inch wheel base. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced two voluntary recalls of the following defective products:  Rio Brands’ High-Boy Beach Chairs and Hammocks Sold by LivingXL.

Approximately 800 Rio Beach® High-Boy Folding Beach Chairs have been recalled for a fall hazard:  The rear leg of the chair can break.  Rio Brands, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the manufacturer and the Rio Beach® High-Boy Folding Beach Chairs were made in China.  To date, Rio Brands received one report of an incident that involved minor bruises. (more…)

In collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Avon has issued two voluntary recalls.  In both cases, the defective products were distributed by Avon Products Inc., of New York, New York and sold in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

In the first incident, Avon is recalling approximately 17,000 Infant Santa Outfits due to a choking hazard.  The Infant Santa Outfits were manufactured in China and imported by MacSwed, Inc., of New York, New York.  Although no injuries or incidents have been reported, to date, the pom poms on the 2006 and 2007 Infant Santa Outfit and the snaps on the 2007 Infant Santa Outfit can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. (more…)

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced recalls on two bicycle resistance trainers today.  Both items are folding stands that lift and apply resistance to the rear wheel of a standard bike, converting it into a stationary trainer.  In both cases, the recall is due to a hazard in which the springs in the trainers can unhook and become a projectile, posing a puncture risk to users or bystanders.

The CPSC—in collaboration with Performance Inc.—issued a voluntary product safety recall of approximately 3,000 of the 2007 and 2008 Performance Travel Trac Trainers imported by Performance Inc., of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  Performance received three reports of springs releasing from the trainers; no injuries have been reported. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Hobby-Lobby International, Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries sold with the AT600 Falcon Helicopter kit due to fire hazard.

According to the CPSC, about 3,200 of the lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries, which were distributed by Hobby-Lobby International Inc., of Brentwood, Tennessee and manufactured by Art-Tech R/C Hobby Company, Ltd. of Shenzhen, China, have been recalled.  The lithium-polymer batteries can ignite while charging, posing a fire hazard to consumers.  The recall also includes any spare battery (Model AT600B) or spare charger (Model ATS6046) purchased for this kit.  Hobby-Lobby has received three reports of incidents, including a consumer who received serious burns to his hand when a battery ignited. (more…)

Toyota Motor Corporation and General Motors Corporation warned customers this week about faulty power-window systems in some of their top-selling vehicles, resulting in a North American recall that involves over 662,000 cars.  Toyota is recalling 539,500 2003-04 model Corolla compact cars and Matrix crossover vehicles due to defective bolts in the window systems.  Toyota said the faulty bolts originated from a supplier and have now been redesigned. As part of the efforts in North America to resolve the problem, Toyota said it will notify about 50,000 Canadian customers that they will require free repairs offered by Toyota.  The cars involved in the recall were assembled in Canada at a Cambridge, Ontario plant.

GM also announced a recall for the same problem involving approximately 123,000 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks.  The Pontiac Vibes share the same platform as Toyota’s Matrix and are built by GM as part of a joint venture with Toyota.  In those vehicles with power windows, the glass bolts in the front windows may loosen which causes the glass to separate from the window regulator, Toyota reported.  Cars with manual windows are not subject to the recalls. (more…)

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with two toy firms announced voluntary recalls of two children’s toys due to excessive lead paint levels.  Consumers should stop using these recalled products immediately, ensuring they are taken away from children.

The first product, Hillbilly Teeth, was imported by FUNTASTIC, of Houston, Texas and is being recalled because the gray surface paint on the teeth contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.  Approximately 26,000 of the FUNTASTIC Hillbilly Teeth toys were sold in two-pack packages with item # 2657 printed on the packaging.  The toy’s gums are brown and the teeth are yellow.  The FUNTASTIC Hillbilly Teeth were manufactured in China and sold at grocery, drug, convenience, and mass retailers nationwide from March 2005 through March 2008 for about $2.  Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy away from children and contact FUNTASTIC for information on receiving a refund at (800) 434-5207 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday or visit the company’s Web site at www.funtastictoy.com (more…)

Toy robots sold at dollar stores nationwide are being recalled by OKK Trading Inc. of Commerce, Calif. because surface paint on the toys violates federal lead standards.  According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), about 2000 of the lead tainted robots are involved in this recall.

Many consider lead poisoning to be one of the most important chronic environmental illnesses affecting children today.  Exposure to lead in children and unborn children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems.  Lead is also known to cause cancer and reproductive harm and, in adults, lead can damage the nervous system.  Despite efforts to control lead and the success in decreasing lead poisoning, serious cases still occur.  Once poisoned, no organ system is immune.  Of particular concern is the developing brain because negative influences can have long-lasting effects and can continue well into puberty and beyond. (more…)