Infinity and Lifestyle Spas

CPSC Recall #04-047 - December 8, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number04-047
Recall DateDecember 8, 2003
Remedy TypeReplace
Units Affected13,000
ManufacturerSpa Manufacturer: MAAX Spas, of Beamsville, of Ontario, CanadaCirculating Pump Motor Manufacturer: A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co., of Tipp City, OhioMotor Capacitor Manufacturer/Distributor: Motor Capacitors Inc., of Chicago, Illinois
Manufactured InThe capacitors were manufactured in Taiwan. The motors and pump assemblies were manufactured in the United States. The spas were manufactured in Canada.

Where It Was Sold

MAAX spa dealers sold these spas in the U.S. and Canada from January 1998 through December 2001 for between $4
000 and $8
000.

Product

Infinity and Lifestyle Spas

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MAAX Spas, of Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co., of Tipp City, Ohio, and Motor Capacitors Inc., of Chicago, Ill are voluntarily recalling 13,000 Infinity and Lifestyle Spas. The motor capacitor, which is a component of the circulating pump, can overheat. This poses a fire hazard.Name of product: Infinity and Lifestyle SpasUnits: 13,000Spa Manufacturer: MAAX Spas, of Beamsville, of Ontario, CanadaCirculating Pump Motor Manufacturer: A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co., of Tipp City, OhioMotor Capacitor Manufacturer/Distributor: Motor Capacitors Inc., of Chicago, IllinoisHazard: The motor capacitor, which is a component of the circulating pump, can overheat. This poses a fire hazard.Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and MAAX Spas has received more than 100 reports of incidents of overheating of the motor capacitor. Twelve reports of overheating resulted in fires. No injuries or property damage, other than to the spa itself, have been reported.Description: The recall involves Infinity and Lifestyle model spas manufactured by MAAX Spas. Only MAAX Spas equipped with a Motor Capacitor Inc. capacitor are included in this recall. Units that contain the capacitor have a label on the motor that reads, "Tiny Might." Various models of the spas are included in the recall. Contact the MAAX Spa Fulfillment Center to determine if your model is included in the recall.Sold at: MAAX spa dealers sold these spas in the U.S. and Canada from January 1998 through December 2001 for between $4,000 and $8,000.Manufactured in: The capacitors were manufactured in Taiwan. The motors and pump assemblies were manufactured in the United States. The spas were manufactured in Canada.Remedy: Contact the MAAX Spa Fulfillment Center to arrange for installation of a free replacement pump motor capacitor.Consumer Contact: Contact the MAAX Spa Fulfillment Center at (877) 259-0289 between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Hazard

The motor capacitor, which is a component of the circulating pump, can overheat. This poses a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and MAAX Spas has received more than 100 reports of incidents of overheating of the motor capacitor. Twelve reports of overheating resulted in fires. No injuries or property damage, other than to the spa itself, have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Contact the MAAX Spa Fulfillment Center to arrange for installation of a free replacement pump motor capacitor.

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.

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.