By Rita Colorito on December 13, 2012 in
It's not been a good month for the 2013 Ford Fusion, which received one recall last week and another this week. And it's been a bad week for baby products: More than 8,000 City Versa Strollers were recalled because they pose a fall hazard. Dream On Me issued two recalls, for 50,000 bath seats that pose a drowning hazard, and 900 children's bedrails that pose a suffocation hazard. In a move to protect infants, the CPSC filed suit against Nap Nanny for what it says is an ongoing defect in its products that put infants at risk of death.
Read on for the details of these and other recalls.In other auto recalls
In the second recall in as many weeks, Ford recalled more than 19,000 2013 Fusion vehicles manufactured from February 3, 2012 through October 20, 2012. The projector coating on the low-beam headlamp can become hazy through operation, over time, reducing its brightness and decreasing driver visibility. Ford will notify owners beginning in December 2012, and dealers will replace the headlamp assembly. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at (866) 436-7332.
BMW issued two recalls this week:
- Nearly 30,000 2009-2011 BMW/X5 SAV diesel vehicles were recalled because an engine belt idler pulley bolt could loosen, causing the driver to unexpectedly loose power-assisted steering, posing a crash risk.
- Some 300 2013 C600 Sport Maxi-Scooters manufactured August 7, 2012 through November 20, 2012 were recalled because the front side trim panels can come off at high speeds, posing a crash risk to the rider, and injury risk to other riders nearby.
In both recalls, BMW will notify owners beginning in January 2013, and dealers fix the affected issues, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW at (800) 525-7417 or email BMW.
Mercedes-Benz recalled eight 2011-2012 models, nearly 6,000 vehicles, because the fuel filter flange may crack, posing a fire hazard if leaking fuel comes into contact with an ignition source. The firm recalled its S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011 through July 12, 2011. Mercedes-Benz will notify owners beginning in January 2013 and dealers will replace the fuel filter, free of charge. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at (800) 367-6372.
Baby product recalls
Baby Jogger recalled 8,400 City Versa Strollers manufactured between May 15 and August 20, 2012. The frame can fail to lock in place and collapse while in use, posing a fall hazard to children in the stroller. The company has received six such failure reports, though no injuries. The recalled strollers were sold at buybuy Baby and other juvenile product stores nationwide and online at buybuybaby.com, albeebaby.com, diapers.com and other online retailers from July 2012 through October 2012. For a free replacement frame, consumers should contact Baby Jogger at (877) 506-2213, visit the manufacturer's website and click on "Recall Information" at the bottom of the page, or email.
Dream on Me issued two recalls:
- Some 50,000 Dream On Me Bath Seats, several models, fail to meet federal safety standards for stability and pose a drowning risk to infants. One 12-month-old girl nearly drowned, and the CPSC and company have received five complaints involving these seats. The recalled seats were sold at small retail stores and online retailers including Amazon.com and Wayfair.com from July 2012 through September 2012. Dream On Me will issue a replacement tub.
- Nearly 900 Dream On Me Bedrails were recalled because the bed rail can separate from the mattress, entrapping, and posing a suffocation and strangulation hazard to children if they slip between the rail and the mattress. No incidents have been reported. Small independent stores and online at amazon.com and wayfair.com from September 2011 through May 2012. Dream On Me will issue a refund.
For both these recalls, consumers may contact Dream On Me at (877) 201-4317 or online and click on Recalls for more information.
And in other children's product news, the Consumer Product Safety Commission filed a motion to sue Baby Matters, LLC, of Berwyn, Pa., the manufacturer of Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill infant recliners over infant deaths and what the CPSC says is an ongoing defect in its product designs. Nap Nanny Generation One recliners were recalled in July 2010, but the CPSC says the Generation Two models, for which consumers were given a coupon to replace their recalled version, are equally defective and have resulted in the death of four infants, and nearly 70 incidents of children falling out of the recliner.
Other consumer product recalls
Three products sold exclusively at Home Depot stores and online were recalled this week:
- Wing Enterprises recalled some 20,000 Switch-It by Little Giant Type 1A Stepladder/Stepstools rated at 300 pounds. When extended, the inner side rails can separate from the outer side rails posing a fall hazard to the user. The company has received nine such reports, with injuries ranging from scrapes and contusions to a fractured collarbone. Consumers may contact Wing Enterprises at (855) 595-3378 for a free replacement of the front outer section.
- About 8,400 RIDGID Coil Roofing Nailers and 4,400 RIDGID Clipped Head Framing Nailers got the ax this week because trigger assembly can malfunction and involuntarily discharge a fastener, posing a laceration or injury hazard to consumers. Consumers may contact manufacturer, One World Technologies, at (800) 597-9624, for a free replacement nailer.
Grandin Road recalled 2,200 metal chairs from the catalog's Alsace Furniture Collection for posing a fall hazard. Grandin Road has received eight reports of the chairs' back legs bending when the consumer leans back, including three reports of minor injuries. The chairs were sold through the Grandin Road catalog and online from September 2011 to February 2012. Grandin Road is contacting its customers directly. Owners may also contact Grandin Road at (888) 298-4651 for instructions on how to receive a full refund in the form of a merchandise credit.
In food recalls
- Freshway Foods, 6,671 pounds of sliced apples packaged on November 12, 2012, potential listeria contamination;
- Mister Snacks, 5 oz. packages of Sunbird Snacks Yogurt Raisins, undeclared peanuts;
- Sugar Flowers Plus, Cake Decors Pastillage Flowers, undeclared use of egg white wash; and
- Suzanna's Kitchen, approximately 35,800 pounds of breaded chicken products, may contain pieces of plastic.
