Electric hand-held hair dryers
CPSC Recall #04-540 — March 8, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-540 |
| Recall Date | March 8, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | 600 |
| Manufacturer | Lado Co. of America, of Flushing, N.Y. |
| Manufactured In | Italy and Spain |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail beauty supply stores in the metropolitan New York area from March 2003 through December 2003 for about $50. |
Product
Electric hand-held hair dryers
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lado Co. of America, of Flushing, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 600 electric hand-held hair dryers. These hair dryers do not have an immersion protection device or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the power cord, which poses a serious electrocution hazard if dropped in water.Name of Product: Electric hand-held hair dryersUnits: 600Manufacturer: Lado Co. of America, of Flushing, N.Y.Hazard: These hair dryers do not have an immersion protection device or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the power cord, which poses a serious electrocution hazard if dropped in water. In 1991, a voluntary standard was implemented that called for all hair dryers used by consumers to protect against electrocution in both the "on" and "off" positions.Incidents/Injuries: None.Description: The recalled units are the Formula 3000, Energy Turbo, and Rapid 1085 electric hand-held hair dryers. These hair dryers have a pistol grip, black or dark blue colored plastic casing, two-prong power cord, and a label that reads in part: "Lado Professional" and "110V/60HZ". The model name and number also are printed on the label.Sold at: Retail beauty supply stores in the metropolitan New York area from March 2003 through December 2003 for about $50.Manufactured In: Italy and SpainRemedy: Stop using these hair dryers immediately and return the unit to the firm for a refund or replacement.Consumer Contact: Lado Company of America representatives at (800) 368-1130 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Media Contact: David Chung at (718) 886-4160.
Hazard
These hair dryers do not have an immersion protection device or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the power cord, which poses a serious electrocution hazard if dropped in water.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Stop using these hair dryers immediately and return the unit to the firm for a refund or replacement.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, 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.