Intermatic Electroluminescent Night Light
CPSC Recall #02-084 — January 15, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-084 |
| Recall Date | January 15, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | 156,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Hardware stores and electrical distributors nationwide |
| including True Value Hardware Stores |
| sold these nightlights between January 1999 and December 2001 for about $4. |
Product
Intermatic Electroluminescent Night Light
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Intermatic Inc., of Spring Grove, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 156,000 electroluminescent nightlights. The nightlights can short-circuit, posing shock and burn hazards to consumers. The recalled Electroluminescent Night Lights have model numbers GN172 and GN165, which are molded on the back of the lights. The model GN172 lights are gray in color and are about 1 1/2 inches square by 1/4 inch thick with two metal electrical prongs. The model GN165 lights are gray in color and are about 4-3/8 inches in height, 1-5/8 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick with two metal electrical prongs. Also molded on the back of the nightlights are the words, "Intermatic Inc." and "Made in Taiwan."
Hazard
The nightlights can short-circuit, posing shock and burn hazards to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Intermatic has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these lights immediately; if the nightlights are plugged in, turn off the power, and remove them from the wall socket. Consumers should return the nightlights to the store where they were purchased for a full refund or mail the lights to Intermatic Inc. at 7777 Winn Road, Spring Grove, IL 60081, Attn: Larry Kubisiak for a full refund or a replacement nightlight of equal value. Intermatic will also send consumers $2 for shipping and handling.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, 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.