30" Deluxe Animated Santa

CPSC Recall #97-052 - December 22, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-052
Recall DateDecember 22, 1996
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 66,263

Where It Was Sold

Costco and Price Club US Warehouses

Product

30" Deluxe Animated Santa

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), PriceCostco is voluntarily recalling its 30" Deluxe Animated Santa with Light and Music.There have been four reports of animated Santas overheating and melting, which may have been caused by a defective capacitor. PriceCostco is recalling this product to prevent further incidents.Approximately 66,263 animated Santas have been sold in Costco and Price Club US warehouses between August 5, 1996, and December 20, 1996, as item number 63404.This safety notice and recall applies only to the Deluxe 30" Animated Santa with Light and Music sold as item number 63404 and does not apply to any other animated Christmas items sold in PriceCostco warehouses.Consumers should unplug the Santa immediately and return it to any Costco or Price Club warehouse for a full refund.Consumers may contact PriceCostco at (800) 774-2678 if you have any questions.

Hazard

There have been four reports of animated Santas overheating and melting, which may have been caused by a defective capacitor.

Incidents & Injuries

There have been four reports of animated Santas overheating and melting, which may have been caused by a defective capacitor.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should unplug the Santa immediately and return it to any Costco or Price Club warehouse for a full refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.