AmeriGas 20-pound propane cylinders
CPSC Recall #01-089 — February 20, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-089 |
| Recall Date | February 20, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Replace |
| Units Affected | About 1,600 |
Where It Was Sold
| Home center |
| hardware |
| grocery and convenience stores and service stations sold or exchanged these propane cylinders in 19 northeast Ohio counties from December 2000 through February 15 |
| 2001. |
Product
AmeriGas 20-pound propane cylinders
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), AmeriGas Propane L.P., of Valley Forge, Pa., is recalling for inspection about 1,600 propane cylinders used to fuel gas grills and other appliances, which were sold or exchanged at stores in Ohio. These cylinders could be overfilled, which can cause them to release flammable propane gas unexpectedly, posing a risk of fires and explosions.On July 19, 2000, some AmeriGas overfilled cylinders vented propane and ignited, causing an explosion at the AmeriGas plant in Willoughby, Ohio. As a result, AmeriGas Propane L.P. recalled about 100 overfilled propane cylinders distributed in the Detroit, Mich. area in July 2000. One worker suffered minor burns. No consumer injuries have been reported.These 20-pound AmeriGas propane cylinders are white, and at the time of purchase, had a red, white and blue shrink-wrapped sleeve around them with the names "AmeriGas," "Prefilled Propane Xchange" and "PPX(r)" on them.Home center, hardware, grocery and convenience stores and service stations sold or exchanged these propane cylinders in 19 northeast Ohio counties from December 2000 through February 15, 2001. The cylinders sold for between $44 and $48, and cost about $14 to exchange. The recalled cylinders were sold or exchanged in Ohio's Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Mahoning, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.Consumers who purchased or exchanged one of these AmeriGas propane cylinders should not use their propane appliances, and should not disconnect or transport the cylinder. Consumers should call the AmeriGas toll-free hotline immediately at (888) 428-9779 anytime or check the AmeriGas website at www.amerigas.com for instructions on getting their gas cylinder inspected, and replaced if needed. An AmeriGas representative will contact the consumers to arrange for a cylinder inspection and exchange it for a properly filled tank if necessary.Cylinders bearing a blue ink six-digit code just below the collar beginning with the letter X and ending with the number 7 are not included in this recall.As a reminder to all consumers, propane cylinders should not be stored or used indoors or in confined spaces. If you see, hear or smell leaking propane, immediately move far away from the cylinder and call the fire department from another location.
Hazard
These cylinders could be overfilled, which can cause them to release flammable propane gas unexpectedly, posing a risk of fires and explosions.
Incidents & Injuries
On July 19, 2000, some AmeriGas overfilled cylinders vented propane and ignited, causing an explosion at the AmeriGas plant in Willoughby, Ohio. As a result, AmeriGas Propane L.P. recalled about 100 overfilled propane cylinders distributed in the Detroit, Mich. area in July 2000. One worker suffered minor burns. No consumer injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who purchased or exchanged one of these AmeriGas propane cylinders should not use their propane appliances, and should not disconnect or transport the cylinder. Consumers should call the AmeriGas toll-free hotline immediately at (888) 428-9779 anytime or check the AmeriGas website at www.amerigas.com for instructions on getting their gas cylinder inspected, and replaced if needed. An AmeriGas representative will contact the consumers to arrange for a cylinder inspection and exchange it for a properly filled tank if necessary.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, 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 (Inspect, 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.