Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers

CPSC Recall #05-579 - June 2, 2005

Recall Summary

Recall Number05-579
Recall DateJune 2, 2005
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 3,900
Manufacturer DRECO, Ltd., formerly known as DaeRyuk Electronics, LTD, of Korea.
Manufactured InKorea

Where It Was Sold

HSN through its toll-free number and its Web page from September 2001 through July 2002 for about $100. They also were sold at HSN employee stores in Salem
Va.
and St. Petersburg
Fla.
and at HSN retail stores in Florida from September 2001 through November 2002 for between $30 and $35. HSN purchased the product from Appliance Company of America
of Great Neck
NY and was not involved in the manufacturing or distribution of the product.

Product

Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers

Description

The recalled Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cooker was sold under model number PC501. The model number PC501 is located in three places: near the control panel, on the instruction/warning label near the bottom of the unit, and on the bottom of the product. The name "Welbilt" is located near the control panel. The pressure cooker measures 11-inches-high, 11-inches-wide and 15-inches-long and was sold in white.

Hazard

The lid on these pressure cookers can open prematurely while contents are under pressure, allowing hot contents to be expelled and causing a scald or burn injury to individuals in the immediate area.

Incidents & Injuries

HSN has received 43 reports that the lids opened prematurely while contents were under pressure, resulting in 37 reports of burn injuries, including at least four third degree burns.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these cookers. HSN will provide a refund of the purchase price.

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.