Mainstays Love Seat Rocker and Porch Rocker

CPSC Recall #06-117 — March 21, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number06-117
Recall DateMarch 21, 2006
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 643,000
ImporterWal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Manufactured InChina and Indonesia

Where It Was Sold

Wal-Mart stores nationwide and on Wal-Mart's Web site. The Love Seat Rockers were sold from May 2004 through September 2005 for about $100. The Porch Rockers were sold from April 2004 through March 2006 for about $50.

Product

Mainstays Love Seat Rocker and Porch Rocker

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 643,000 Mainstays Love Seat Rocker and Porch Rocker rocking chairs. Poor construction and over-curvature of the chair's runners can cause instability, imbalance, fracturing of the wood, and tip-over during use. This poses a fall hazard to consumers.Name of Product: Mainstays Love Seat Rocker and Porch RockerUnits: About 643,000Importer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.Hazard: Poor construction and over-curvature of the chair's runners can cause instability, imbalance, fracturing of the wood, and tip-over during use. This poses a fall hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Wal-Mart has received 55 incident reports including 45 injuries. Those injuries include a cut in the leg requiring 16 stitches, a slight concussion, fractured ribs, wrist and cervical/lumbar sprains, upper back injuries, a pinched nerve, a shoulder joint tear, and one incident in which a pregnant woman began having contractions after the display chair in which she was sitting flipped over backwards. Many of the injuries occurred on display models in Wal-Mart stores.Description: The recall involves three models of rocking chairs, the Mainstays Love Seat Rocker (Model IT-13380) and the Mainstays Porch Rocker (Model IT-13379 and IT-13270). The Love Seat Rocker is wooden, white and seats two persons. The back support frame and the seat are made of slats. "Made in China" is printed on a sticker under the seat. The wooden Porch Rocker is sold in white and "natural" (light brown) color and seats only one person. "Made in Indonesia" is printed on a sticker under the Porch Rocker's seat. They sit on curved runners. The model number is printed on the rocker's packaging.Sold Exclusively At: Wal-Mart stores nationwide and on Wal-Mart's Web site. The Love Seat Rockers were sold from May 2004 through September 2005 for about $100. The Porch Rockers were sold from April 2004 through March 2006 for about $50.Manufactured in: China and IndonesiaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these rocking chairs and return them to Wal-Mart for a full refund.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit Wal-Mart's Web site at www.walmart.com.

Hazard

Poor construction and over-curvature of the chair's runners can cause instability, imbalance, fracturing of the wood, and tip-over during use. This poses a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Wal-Mart has received 55 incident reports including 45 injuries. Those injuries include a cut in the leg requiring 16 stitches, a slight concussion, fractured ribs, wrist and cervical/lumbar sprains, upper back injuries, a pinched nerve, a shoulder joint tear, and one incident in which a pregnant woman began having contractions after the display chair in which she was sitting flipped over backwards. Many of the injuries occurred on display models in Wal-Mart stores.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using these rocking chairs and return them to Wal-Mart 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.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

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.