Oregon Scientific desktop weather radios

CPSC Recall #00-169a — August 23, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-169a
Recall DateAugust 23, 2000
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 10,000

Where It Was Sold

Office super stores
mass merchandise
home and hardware stores
catalog
and websites sold the radios from December 1999 through July 2000 for about $70.

Product

Oregon Scientific desktop weather radios

Description

PRODUCT: Weather Radios - Oregon Scientific Inc., of Tualatin, Ore., is recalling about 10,000 desktop weather radios. These All Hazards Weather Radios use S.A.M.E. technology to receive local weather warnings broadcast by the National Weather Service. The radios also function as AM/FM clock radios and have model number WR-122 printed on the bottom. Writing on the radio reads "NOAA Weather Radio" and "OREGON SCIENTIFIC." The radios have two rectangular screens which display both a standard clock and a dot matrix display of weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather, such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Also, there are five black buttons on the right side of the radios that read "NOAA," "MESSAGE," "AM/FM," "PRESET" and "VOLUME." The unit measures about 6.75 inches long by 5.25 inches wide. The weather radio can be placed upright on a table or mounted on a wall. Office super stores, mass merchandise, home and hardware stores, catalog, and web sites sold the radios from December 1999 through July 2000 for about $70. Only radios with model number WR-122 are part of this recall. PROBLEM: The radio can fail to decode certain signals broadcast by the National Weather Service or can provide incorrect warnings of severe weather that puts lives and property at risk. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: The firm has received 12 reports from consumers that did not receive an emergency signal broadcast by the National Weather Service. No injuries have been reported. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should not rely on the recalled weather radios to receive emergency information. Call Oregon Scientific for instructions on returning the radio to receive a free replacement. Oregon Scientific will reimburse consumers for postage. Consumers can call Oregon Scientific at (800) 869-7779 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or go to the firm's website at http://www.websitetoday.net/osi/.

Hazard

The radio can fail to decode certain signals broadcast by the National Weather Service or can provide incorrect warnings of severe weather that puts lives and property at risk.

Incidents & Injuries

The firm has received 12 reports from consumers that did not receive an emergency signal broadcast by the National Weather Service. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should not rely on the recalled weather radios to receive emergency information. Call Oregon Scientific for instructions on returning the radio to receive a free replacement. Oregon Scientific will reimburse consumers for postage. 

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.

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.