Universal All-in-One Plug Adapters
CPSC Recall #04-152 — June 7, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-152 |
| Recall Date | June 7, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 34,000 |
| Manufacturer | Ahoku Electronics Co., of Taipei, Taiwan |
| Manufactured In | Taiwan |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail stores nationwide and the Targus online store sold the adapters between November 2002 and May 2004 for about $20. |
Product
Universal All-in-One Plug Adapters
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Targus Group International Inc., of Anaheim, Calif., is voluntarily recalling Universal All-in-One Plug Adapters. The adapters may have an electrical wiring problem, posing a shock and fire hazard to consumers.Name of product: Universal All-in-One Plug AdaptersUnits: 34,000Manufacturer: Ahoku Electronics Co., of Taipei, TaiwanDistributor: Targus Group International Inc., of Anaheim, Calif.Hazard: The adapters may have an electrical wiring problem, posing a shock and fire hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Targus has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.Description: The recall involves 110/220 volt All-in-One Universal Travel Adapters. The black adapter unit provides four different types of power connection based on the different electrical outlets worldwide. The recalled adapters have the brand name "Targus" printed on the front. On the side of the adapter is a switch to allow the user to select one of the three country settings: "USA/Aust/N.Z." or "Europe" or "U.K."Sold at: Retail stores nationwide and the Targus online store sold the adapters between November 2002 and May 2004 for about $20.Manufactured in: TaiwanRemedy: Consumers should stop using the adapters immediately and contact Targus to receive a full refund.Consumer Contact: Consumer should call Targus at (877) 482-7487 (877-4-TARGUS), between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or log on to the company's website at www.targus.com/recall.
Hazard
The adapters may have an electrical wiring problem, posing a shock and fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Targus has not received any reports of incidents.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the adapters immediately and contact Targus to receive 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.