CPSC, Firms Announce Recall of Remote Controlled Toy Race Cars and
Galileo Weather Thermometers
The following product safety recalls were conducted by firms in
cooperation with the CPSC. For more information about recalls, visit
CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.
PRODUCT: Remote Controlled Toy Race Cars - Equity Marketing Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 4,300 Remote Controlled Race Cars. The remote controlled race cars are black with the number 28 printed in red on the doors and roof and the Texaco logo printed on the hood of the car. The cars are about 8-inches long by 3-inches wide and 2-inches high. A black cordless remote control is sold with the cars and reads in part " FORWARD," and "REVERSE" in yellow print. Participating Texaco gas stations nationwide sold the cars under the "Need for Speed" promotion from May 2001 through June 1, 2001 for about $12 with any $10 purchase.
PROBLEM: Problems with the circuits are rendering some of the Remote
Controlled Race Cars inoperable. These cars can overheat and emit smoke
and may pose a potential burn hazard.
INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Equity Marketing Inc. has received three reports of
the toy cars emitting smoke. No injuries have been reported.
WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these cars immediately, remove
the batteries from the remote controlled race cars and the remote
controls and return the remote controlled race cars and remote controls
to the Texaco station where purchased for a full refund. Consumers also
may return the items for a full refund by obtaining a prepaid shipping
label by calling Equity Marketing Inc. at (888) 747-4355 between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or by writing to Remote Controlled
Car Recall, Equity Marketing, Inc. at 6330 San Vicente Blvd., Los
Angeles, CA 90048. For more information, consumers may also visit the
firm's web site at www.equity-marketing.com.
PRODUCT: Galileo Weather Thermometers - Nantucket Distributing Co. Inc.,
of South Yarmouth, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 28,000 Galileo
thermometers. The thermometers are made of glass. They are cylinder-
shaped measuring about 17-inches high. Inside the cylinder are floating
small glass spheres filled with various colors of liquid. Attached to
each sphere is a metal disk with different temperatures embossed on both
sides. The spheres float up and down within the cylinder to identify a
temperature based on their position within the cylinder. A small gold
sticker that says "Made in China" is on the bottom of the cylinder. The
Christmas Tree Shops Inc. in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and Albany, New York sold these thermometers from
June 2000 through December 2000 for $12.99.
PROBLEM: The thermometers contain a liquid that is flammable and a
hazardous substance that could be harmful or fatal if swallowed.
INCIDENTS/INJURIES: CPSC and Nantucket Distributing Co. Inc. have
received five reports of thermometers breaking resulting in two
injuries. A man suffered burns to his hands when the thermometer broke
near a stove and ignited his clothing. Another man suffered smoke
inhalation when extinguishing a fire caused by candles igniting a broken
thermometer.
WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these thermometers immediately
and return them to the Christmas Tree Shops Inc. where purchased for a
refund. For more information, consumers should call Christmas Tree Shops
Inc. at (800) 876-9677 anytime, or visit the firm's web site at
www.christmastreeshops.com.