VersaToast™ Wide-Slot Toaster
CPSC Recall #02-099 — February 6, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-099 |
| Recall Date | February 6, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 2.1 million |
Where It Was Sold
| Discount department stores |
| including Wal-Mart |
| Service Merchandise |
| Kohl's Department Stores and Bradlees |
| sold the toasters nationwide from June 1999 through January 2002. The two-slice toasters sold for between $10 and $20. The four-slice toasters sold for between $18 and $30. |
Product
VersaToast™ Wide-Slot Toaster
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miami Lakes, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 2.1 million VersaToast™ wide-slot toasters. Applica made and sold these toasters under the Black & Decker® brand. The recall includes both two-slice and four-slice Black & Decker® brand VersaToast™ wide-slot toasters. "BLACK & DECKER®," "VersaToast™" and "WIDE SLOT" are written on the side of the toaster near the cooking controls. The toasters have either white or black plastic enclosures. They have model number T1200, T1250, T1400 or T1450 written on the bottom of the toaster.
Hazard
The heating element in these toasters can continue to operate after use, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Applica are aware of nine reports of fires associated with these toasters after a period of non-use, resulting in minor property damage to kitchen cabinets. One minor injury was reported to the firm, but it has not been confirmed and is under investigation.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should unplug and stop using these recalled toasters immediately.
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.
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.