Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles with Ballistic 105 front suspension forks
CPSC Recall #02-143 — April 17, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-143 |
| Recall Date | April 17, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 103,000 |
| Manufacturer | Brunswick Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill. |
Where It Was Sold
| Discount department stores and toy stores nationwide sold the bicycles with these forks from June 1998 through December 2000 for between $125 and $150. Additionally |
| consumers could have received a Ballistic model 105 fork as a replacement when participating in one of the previous recalls. |
Product
Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles with Ballistic 105 front suspension forks
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brunswick Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 103,000 Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles with Ballistic 105 front suspension forks. The forks on these bicycles can break apart, causing riders to lose control, fall and suffer serious injury.By Us International Co. Ltd., of Taiwan, the manufacturer of the bicycle forks, previously announced the recall of 13,500 of these forks in May 2000. The recall was expanded to about 40,000 forks in February 2001. By Us International is no longer cooperating with the recall. Brunswick Corp. is expanding the recall to include all Ballistic model 105 forks sold on the Mongoose and Roadmaster mountain bicycles they manufactured (except the Mongoose A40). The previous recalls were limited to forks with certain serial numbers.There have been 34 reports of forks on these bicycles breaking resulting in 31 riders, including children and teenagers, suffering serious head and bodily injuries, abrasions, bruises and chipped teeth.The recall includes only Ballistic 105 forks installed on Mongoose and Roadmaster model bicycles manufactured by Brunswick Corp. The forks on these bikes are black with decals that read "BALLISTIC" and "105" on the sides of the suspension fork legs. A small label on the bottom of the bicycle reads "Brunswick." The forks on the Mongoose A40 model bicycles and forks on bicycles not manufactured by Brunswick Corp. are not included in the recall.Discount department stores and toy stores nationwide sold the bicycles with these forks from June 1998 through December 2000 for between $125 and $150. Additionally, consumers could have received a Ballistic model 105 fork as a replacement when participating in one of the previous recalls.Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call the firm to obtain information on receiving a $65 refund for the bicycle fork. This applies to all owners of bicycles with Ballistic model 105 forks manufactured by Brunswick (except the Mongoose A40), even if they received a new Ballistic model 105 fork as a result of a participating in a previous recall. For more information, consumers should call Brunswick Corp. at (877) 243-5568 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
Hazard
The forks on these bicycles can break apart, causing riders to lose control, fall and suffer serious injury.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been 34 reports of forks on these bicycles breaking resulting in 31 riders, including children and teenagers, suffering serious head and bodily injuries, abrasions, bruises and chipped teeth.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call the firm to obtain information on receiving a $65 refund for the bicycle fork. This applies to all owners of bicycles with Ballistic model 105 forks manufactured by Brunswick (except the Mongoose A40), even if they received a new Ballistic model 105 fork as a result of a participating in a previous recall.
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.
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.