FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2000
Release # 00-163
Manco Hotline: (800) 293-0795 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC, Manco Products Inc. Announce Recall to Repair of Go-Karts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Manco Products Inc., of Fort Wayne, Ind., is
recalling about 91,000 go-karts for repair. These go-karts have guards
designed to help prevent entanglements, but riders' long hair or loose
clothing still can become entangled in partially exposed rotating
components behind the drivers' seats, causing death or serious injury.
Manco Products has received a report of one death and two reports
of serious injuries when teenage girls' long hair became entangled in
the rotating components. It was reported that a 13-year-old girl from
Idaho, died from a fractured neck when her hair got caught in the drive
chain and sprocket of a go-kart she was driving. Another 13-year-old
girl suffered a scalping injury, and a 16-year-old girl lost
consciousness and suffered severe head trauma.
These one- and two-seat go-karts are powered by gasoline engines.
They were sold under the Manco, Phoenix, Fox, Rattler and Coyote labels.
Most have brush bars to protect riders from low tree branches and other
foliage. The recall involves two groups of go-karts. The first group has
black plastic deck covers over the rear axle and brake. Their serial
numbers are within the following ranges: 1757022 through 1855821, and
3000010 through 3050632. The second group of go-karts have a cross-over
jackshaft drive system. These go-karts have serial numbers lower than
1757022. All the go-karts have a black serial number on a silver label
located on the floor pan immediately in front of the driver's seat.
Outdoor power equipment dealers; specialty, discount, hardware,
automotive parts supply and agricultural supply stores; and motorcycle
dealers sold the go-karts nationwide from January 1983 through July 2000
for between $600 and $2,000.
Consumers should stop using these go-karts immediately and call
Manco for a free repair kit with instructions for easy installation.
Consumers also can contact any Manco dealer to get free installation of
the repair kit. For more information, call Manco at (800) 293-0795
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's
web site at http://www.mancoprod.com/recall.htm.
In cooperation with CPSC, Manco Products previously recalled go-
karts in 1996 because their rear axles were exposed. One child died and
two others were seriously injured when their hair or clothing became
entangled in the rotating rear axles. The cross-over jackshaft-type go-
karts, which were part of this earlier recall, are included in the
current recall. Manco will provide guards for both recalls if needed.