Aqua Mist windshield washer fluid

CPSC Recall #00-109 — May 15, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-109
Recall DateMay 15, 2000
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 335,000
ManufacturerFilter Tech Inc., of Huntington, West Virginia

Where It Was Sold

Speedway Superamerica stores and other automotive stores in Kentucky
Michigan
Ohio
Pennsylvania
and West Virginia sold the windshield washer fluid from October 1999 through April 2000 for about $1.50.

Product

Aqua Mist windshield washer fluid

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Filter Tech Inc., of Huntington, W.V., is recalling about 335,000 bottles of Aqua Mist windshield washer fluid. The bottles, which contain methyl alcohol, are not sealed with child-resistant closures as required by federal law. Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, is toxic and can cause blindness or death if ingested. CPSC and Filter Tech are not aware of any injuries involving this product. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. This recall involves 1-gallon bottles of Aqua Mist Windshield Washer Fluid with twist-off caps. The bottle's label reads in part, "Aqua Mist Windshield Washer Fluid Protects to -25° F...Manufactured by Filter Tech, Inc. Huntington, WV." The label's UPC number is "6 96632 00001 5." Speedway Superamerica stores and other automotive stores in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia sold the windshield washer fluid from October 1999 through April 2000 for about $1.50. Consumers immediately should return the bottles to the store where purchased for their choice of a full refund, exchange or child-resistant cap. For more information, call Filter Tech at (800) 834-5832. Aqua Mist bottles with caps marked "while pushing down, turn, close tightly" are child-resistant and are not recalled.

Hazard

The bottles, which contain methyl alcohol, are not sealed with child-resistant closures as required by federal law. Methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, is toxic and can cause blindness or death if ingested.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Filter Tech are not aware of any injuries involving this product.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers immediately should return the bottles to the store where purchased for their choice of a full refund, exchange or child-resistant cap.

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.