Faulty Ford cruise control switches are the subject of yet another consumer safety warning.  Thursday, the government warned owners of about 4.6 million recalled Ford vehicles to bring their cars and trucks in immediately to dealerships to disconnect the cruise control switch systems because they have been linked to engine fires.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the consumer advisory to owners of some Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, and passenger cars that have not yet been repaired as the owners have not yet responded to past recalls.  The recalls affect Ford’s popular F-Series pickup trucks, prompting hundreds of complaints and dozens of lawsuits over engine fires. Three deaths have been connected to the fires and Ford has struggled to produce enough parts to correct the problem.

About 9.6 million Ford vehicles have been recalled since 1999 and about five million have been fixed, raising concerns about the remaining vehicles on the road, between four and five million. NHTSA said they have received approximately 60 complaints of engine fires in the Ford vehicles since August 2007.  Ford said they supported the action and dealers would soon offer a more permanent fix.  “We absolutely want everybody to come in as soon as they can because we can eliminate the risk of fire for anyone with a vehicle in this recall,” said Ford Motor Co. spokesman Wes Sherwood. He said the company would have an “ample supply” of the replacement parts by June. (more…)

Sierra Pre-Filled bacteria tainted syringes continue to be the target of lawsuits. Five people filed a lawsuit Thursday against Sierra Pre-Filled of Angier, North Carolina, manufacturer of the contaminated pre-filled syringes. All five claimants are Illinois residents and patients at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The five Sierra Pre-Filled syringe lawsuit plaintiffs allege they became seriously ill and were hospitalized because of the defective medical devices.

In December, doctors traced numerous infections to heparin-filled syringes used during home treatment for cancer and other ailments. Around 40 people were sickened, including 20 outpatients at Rush. Of the 20 who fell ill, 14 required hospitalization. Doctors at Rush were able to trace the infections to heparin-filled syringes patients used during home treatment for cancer and other ailments. The Sierra Pre-Filled syringes were found to be contaminated with Serratia marcescens bacteria. (more…)

Johnson & Johnson has recalled balloon catheters used in angioplasties following reports that the defective medical devices injured two people.  The Fire Star-RX and Dura Star-RX PTCA balloon catheters, which are manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s Cordis unit, do not deflate properly and could potentially cause  fatal injuries.  For that reason, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed the Johnson & Johnson Cordis balloon catheter recall a Class I recall. Class I recalls are the most serious type of recall and involve situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious injury or death.

Balloon catheters are used in a medical procedure (known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or PTCA) to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels or arteries of the heart.  According to FDA alert, the recalled Cordis balloon catheters were manufactured in Mexico from February, 2007 through December, 2007 and distributed worldwide from March 26, 2007 through January 8, 2008. Dura Star RX balloon catheters were distributed in the U.S. on August 29, 2007 and Fire Star RX balloon catheter was distributed in the U.S. on August 31, 2007. All Fire Star and Dura Star lots 13173912 through 13315455, plus 52 additional lots above 13315455 are affected. (No lots above 13329055 are affected).

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