"Probe VI" Battery-Powered Riding Toy Repair by Hedstrom
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
| Office of Information and Public Affairs |
Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
Originally issued December 2, 1987
Revised October 22, 2004 |
|
| Release # 87-078 |
|
Note: Firm out of business. Consumers should discard or destroy the products to prevent injuries.
Hedstrom Offers Fuse Protector Kit For
"Probe VI" Battery-Powered Riding Toy
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Hedstrom Corporation, Bedford, Pennsylvania,
voluntarily repaired the wiring harness in approximately 30,000
Hedstrom Probe VI battery-powered riding toys manufactured prior to
June 1985 without fuses. The Commission and Hedstrom are aware of
eight reported incidents in which these vehicles have caught fire.
One of these incidents resulted in a serious fire in a mobile home.
Fire can occur either while the toy is being stored or while it is
being ridden by a child.
The Probe VI is a 6-wheeled, 2-speed toy all terrain vehicle
with two motors powered by two 6-volt gel-type lead acid batteries.
A separate charger is supplied with each vehicle. The manufacturer
recommends this toy for children from 3 to 7 years of age. Probe VI
toys without fuses were manufactured from 1983 to June 1985 and
distributed nationally.
The affected units can be identified by the model identification
label located on the front underside of the plastic body (see
attached diagram). Hedstrom began using wiring harnesses with fuses
at the batteries in June 1985. Units with fuses are not affected.
Models affected are: 67-3890, 67-3891, 67-3892, 67-38921, 67-3893
and 67-38931 with dates of manufacture prior to June 1985, as shown
on the model identification label.
Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately and discard or destroy the product. The firm is out of business and the repair program is no longer available.
