Marshall Gas Controls Model 451 and 452 LP-Gas regulators on Char-Broil®, Kenmore®, and Thermos® ...
CPSC Recall #03-196 — September 24, 2003
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 03-196 |
| Recall Date | September 24, 2003 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | 35,000 |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Home and appliance stores nationwide from April 2003 through May 2003. |
Product
Marshall Gas Controls Model 451 and 452 LP-Gas regulators on Char-Broil®, Kenmore®, and Thermos® brand LP-Gas Grills (shipped to retailers between April 15, 2003 and May 6, 2003)
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Marshall Gas Controls, a division of S.H. Leggitt Company of San Marcos, Texas, is voluntarily recalling 35,000 Marshall Gas Controls Model 451 and 452 LP-Gas regulators on Char-Broil, Kenmore, and Thermos brand LP-Gas Grills shipped to retailers between April 15, 2003 and May 6, 2003. Some of these regulators were assembled with an undersized seat disc that could become dislodged and leak propane gas. Propane gas is highly flammable and could ignite causing a fire or explosion. Consumers should immediately close the valve on the service cylinder if LP-Gas leakage is detected.Name of product: Marshall Gas Controls Model 451 and 452 LP-Gas regulators on Char-Broil®, Kenmore®, and Thermos® brand LP-Gas Grills (shipped to retailers between April 15, 2003 and May 6, 2003)Units: 35,000Distributor: Marshall Gas Controls, a division of S.H. Leggitt Company of San Marcos, TexasHazard: Some of these regulators were assembled with an undersized seat disc that could become dislodged and leak propane gas. Propane gas is highly flammable and could ignite causing a fire or explosion. Consumers should immediately close the valve on the service cylinder if LP-Gas leakage is detected.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: These low-pressure regulators control petroleum gas pressure in gas grills. The regulators are used with Char-Broil®, Kenmore® and Thermos® brand gas grills. There are two model gas regulators involved in the recall. Model 451 is a single outlet regulator used on grills with traditional burners in the main box. Model 452 is a dual outlet regulator used on grills with a side burner adjacent to the main box. The regulators have date codes printed on the valve body. Date codes included in the recall are 13-03/03-13, 14-03/03-14, 15-03/03-15, 16-03/03-16, 17-03/03-17 and 18-03/03-18.BrandModelModel NumberCHAR-BROIL®"Quick Set"463531503463531703463631703463713303463728403463731803"Big Easy"463823303463826803"Patio Caddie"475496003KENMORE®"Wide Body"415.162020415.162040415.162060"Diamond Flame"415.162050THERMOS®"Quick Set"461631603461631903461633803461733803Sold at: Home and appliance stores nationwide from April 2003 through May 2003.Manufactured in: The grills and the regulators were manufactured in the USA.Remedy: Consumers should immediately close the valve on the service cylinder if LP-gas leakage is detected and contact the Grill Service Center to receive a free replacement regulator. For brand and model information, contact the Grill Service Center or visit the commission's website at www.cpsc.gov.Consumer Contact: Call the Grill Service Center at (800) 241-7548 anytime.Media Contact: Mark Ross for Marshall Gas Controls at (512) 396-0707, Alex Gafford for Char-Broil® and Thermos® at (800) 352-4111 ext. 6356, and Larry Costello for Kenmore® at (847) 286-9036.
Hazard
Some of these regulators were assembled with an undersized seat disc that could become dislodged and leak propane gas. Propane gas is highly flammable and could ignite causing a fire or explosion. Consumers should immediately close the valve on the service cylinder if LP-Gas leakage is detected.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately close the valve on the service cylinder if LP-gas leakage is detected and contact the Grill Service Center to receive a free replacement regulator.
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.