Ab Swing exercise units
CPSC Recall #03-538 — April 28, 2003
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 03-538 |
| Recall Date | April 28, 2003 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 9,500 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Home Shopping Network (HSN) sold the exercise units in September 2002 for about $89. |
Product
Ab Swing exercise units
Description
PRODUCT: Exercise equipment - DCD Incorporated of Malibu, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 9,500 Ab Swing exercise units. The Ab Swing is a manual exercise unit, primarily intended for abdominal exercise. It is gray steel, with red seat and handlebars with black grips. The Ab Swing weighs approximately 18 pounds, and sits about 2 feet off the ground. The word "abswing" is printed on the front of the seat and the phrase "Made in Malaysia" is printed on a tag on the back of the seat. Units that contain the phrase "Made in China" are not included in this recall. Home Shopping Network (HSN) sold the exercise units in September 2002 for about $89.PROBLEM: Some of the exercise units contain two faulty handlebar welds under the seat that could fail, allowing consumers to fall to the ground.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: DCD Incorporated is aware of 139 complaints related to the potential weld failure, of which 11 involve injuries to the wrists, back, and head when consumers fell from the seat.WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using the Ab Swing immediately. DCD is directly contacting all owners instructing them to return the product's handlebars for a free replacement. For more information, contact DCD Incorporated at (866) 473-0164, Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm PT.
Hazard
Some of the exercise units contain two faulty handlebar welds under the seat that could fail, allowing consumers to fall to the ground.
Incidents & Injuries
DCD Incorporated is aware of 139 complaints related to the potential weld failure, of which 11 involve injuries to the wrists, back, and head when consumers fell from the seat.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the Ab Swing immediately. DCD is directly contacting all owners instructing them to return the product's handlebars for a free replacement.
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.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
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.