June 2008
Recalls and safety alerts
RECALLS & safety alerts
Automobiles & Equipment
'97-03 GM Regal/Grand Prix
Vehicles equipped with 3.8L supercharged V-6 engines run the risk of underhood fires resulting from drops of engine oil falling onto the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Models: 207,542 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix.
What to do: Until dealer has repaired the problem, do not park your car inside any structure. If you notice a burning odor, have dealer inspect your vehicle free of charge. Use premium fuel as recommended by the owner's manual. Call Buick at 866-608-8080 or Pontiac at 800-620-7668 for more information.
HOUSEHOLD Products
Avon Cozy Warming Polar Bear
Warming pouch inside the bear can overheat and ignite when heated in microwave, posing fire and burn hazards.
Products: 113,000 plush bears sold by Avon sales representatives and online from 7/07 through 2/08 for $13 individually or as part of a gift for $100. Avon has had 41 reports of the bear overheating, including six reports of minor burns.
What to do: Stop using the bear and return the buckwheat-filled pouch for a full refund. Call Avon at 877-217-0916.
Children's Products
Combi infant child restraint system
In the event of a frontal crash, the car seat could become separated from its base and the child will not be adequately protected from injury.
Products: 67,167 Combi Centre, Centre ARB, and Shuttle restraint systems manufactured from 10/05 through 12/07. Recalled models are 8065, 8074, 8086, 8087, and 8520, and associated travel systems, model numbers 4400, 4515, and 4520, that contain Centre and Shuttle car-seat models.
What to do: Owners should contact Combi to get a free retrofit kit. Combi recommends that the car seat be used without the base until you get the kit. Call Combi at 800-543-7734 or go to www.combi-intl.com.
MagnaMan, Magtastik, and Magnetix Jr. magnetic toys
Small magnets inside toys can detach and be swallowed or inhaled by young children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Products: 1.3 million MagnaMan magnetic figures and 1.1 million Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-School magnetic toys sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys "R" Us, Kmart, and other toy stores nationwide from 1/05 through 12/07 for between $10 and $40. Mega Brands, the distributor, has had at least 44 reports of magnets coming loose, including one of a 3-year-old boy requiring medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nose.
What to do: Stop using toys and return them to Mega Brands for a free replacement toy. Call Mega Brands at 800-779-7122 or go to www.megabrands.com for details about recalled toys and model numbers.
Toy puzzle vehicle sets
Surface paints on puzzles have excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal lead-paint standard.
Products: 198,000 puzzle toys sold on QVC, www.qvc.com, through the toll-free number, and QVC Studio store from 9/02 through 12/07 for $20. The recalled toy is a 16-piece Puzzle Track Play set, QVC item T16876 (printed on outside of brown box packaging).
What to do: Return puzzle to QVC for a full refund, including shipping and handling. For details call QVC at 800-367-9444 or go to www.qvc.com.
Automobiles & Equipment
'97-03 GM Regal/Grand PrixVehicles equipped with 3.8L supercharged V-6 engines run the risk of underhood fires resulting from drops of engine oil falling onto the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Models: 207,542 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix.
What to do: Until dealer has repaired the problem, do not park your car inside any structure. If you notice a burning odor, have dealer inspect your vehicle free of charge. Use premium fuel as recommended by the owner's manual. Call Buick at 866-608-8080 or Pontiac at 800-620-7668 for more information.
HOUSEHOLD Products
Avon Cozy Warming Polar BearWarming pouch inside the bear can overheat and ignite when heated in microwave, posing fire and burn hazards.
Products: 113,000 plush bears sold by Avon sales representatives and online from 7/07 through 2/08 for $13 individually or as part of a gift for $100. Avon has had 41 reports of the bear overheating, including six reports of minor burns.
What to do: Stop using the bear and return the buckwheat-filled pouch for a full refund. Call Avon at 877-217-0916.
Children's Products
Combi infant child restraint systemIn the event of a frontal crash, the car seat could become separated from its base and the child will not be adequately protected from injury.
Products: 67,167 Combi Centre, Centre ARB, and Shuttle restraint systems manufactured from 10/05 through 12/07. Recalled models are 8065, 8074, 8086, 8087, and 8520, and associated travel systems, model numbers 4400, 4515, and 4520, that contain Centre and Shuttle car-seat models.
What to do: Owners should contact Combi to get a free retrofit kit. Combi recommends that the car seat be used without the base until you get the kit. Call Combi at 800-543-7734 or go to www.combi-intl.com.
MagnaMan, Magtastik, and Magnetix Jr. magnetic toysSmall magnets inside toys can detach and be swallowed or inhaled by young children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Products: 1.3 million MagnaMan magnetic figures and 1.1 million Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-School magnetic toys sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys "R" Us, Kmart, and other toy stores nationwide from 1/05 through 12/07 for between $10 and $40. Mega Brands, the distributor, has had at least 44 reports of magnets coming loose, including one of a 3-year-old boy requiring medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nose.
What to do: Stop using toys and return them to Mega Brands for a free replacement toy. Call Mega Brands at 800-779-7122 or go to www.megabrands.com for details about recalled toys and model numbers.
Toy puzzle vehicle setsSurface paints on puzzles have excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal lead-paint standard.
Products: 198,000 puzzle toys sold on QVC, www.qvc.com, through the toll-free number, and QVC Studio store from 9/02 through 12/07 for $20. The recalled toy is a 16-piece Puzzle Track Play set, QVC item T16876 (printed on outside of brown box packaging).
What to do: Return puzzle to QVC for a full refund, including shipping and handling. For details call QVC at 800-367-9444 or go to www.qvc.com.
