Pedal Car

CPSC Recall #02-104 — February 19, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-104
Recall DateFebruary 19, 2002
Remedy TypeNo Remedy Available
Units Affected75,000
Manufactured InThe pedal cars were manufactured in Korea.

Where It Was Sold

The two "Raley's" cars were sold exclusively at Raley's supermarkets from July 2000 through December 2000. Department
toy
and specialty/collectible stores sold all of the other pedal cars from November 1999 through January 2002 for between $100 and $500.

Product

Pedal Car

Description

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Alpha International Inc., also known as Gearbox Pedal Car Company, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling about 75,000 pedal cars.There are 17 models of the pedal cars included in the recall. Models include three fire trucks, four police cars, eight sedans, one yellow taxi, and one dump truck. Model names are listed below:Fire Trucks: "Fire Truck," "John Deere" and "Texaco."Police Cars: "NYPD," "Chicago Police," "Highway Patrol" and "EMERGENCY 911."Sedans: pink "Champion," blue "Champion," "Texaco," "John Deere," "Citgo," "Raley's Coca-Cola," "Raley's Keebler," and "Red Lion."All of the pedal cars are made of metal and come in a variety of colors. Most of the cars have a "Gearbox" logo on the seat back, the hubcaps, and/or the pedals. Consumers should take these pedal cars away from young children immediately.

Hazard

The paint coating on some of these pedal cars contains high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children's products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest the lead from the car's paint coating, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

Alpha International has not received any reports of injuries involving these pedal cars. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a No Remedy Available 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 (No Remedy Available) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.