Dirt Devil® Total Pet Cyclonic Upright

CPSC Recall #16-088 — February 2, 2016

Recall Summary

Recall Number16-088
Recall DateFebruary 2, 2016
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 149,000 in the United States (in addition, about 9,700 in Canada)
ImporterRoyal Appliance Mfg. Co., of Glenwillow, Ohio
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

ABC Warehouse
Boardman Furniture
Fred's
Walmart stores nationwide
Dirt Devil via telephone and online at www.dirtdevil.com
www.ebay.com and www.walmart.com from February 2014 through November 2015 for between $45 and $70.

Product

Dirt Devil® Total Pet Cyclonic Upright

Description

The vacuum's electric cord plug prong can detach and remain in the electrical outlet when the vacuum is unplugged. The detached prong can pose an electrical shock hazard if it remains connected with the electrical outlet.

Hazard

The vacuum's electric cord plug prong can detach and remain in the electrical outlet when the vacuum is unplugged. The detached prong can pose an electrical shock hazard if it remains connected with the electrical outlet.

Incidents & Injuries

The firm has received 14 reports of a detached prong that remained in an electrical outlet. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vacuums and contact Dirt Devil for instructions on receiving a free replacement vacuum.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) at no cost to you.

No — you should stop using the product entirely, not just unplug it. Electric shock and fire hazards in recalled electrical products often involve internal wiring defects, faulty components, or insulation failures that can cause harm even after the product has been off for a period of time. Do not attempt to repair the product yourself. Keep it unplugged and stored safely until you receive the manufacturer's remedy. If the product has already shown signs of overheating, sparking, or discoloration, handle it carefully and consider contacting your local fire department for guidance on safe disposal.

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.