Recalled Star Wars Darth Maul™ Double-Bladed Lightsaber and Qui-Gon Jinn™ Lightsaber toys

CPSC Recall #99-129 — June 23, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-129
Recall DateJune 23, 1999
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 618,000

Product

Recalled Star Wars Darth Maul™ Double-Bladed Lightsaber and Qui-Gon Jinn™ Lightsaber toys

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hasbro Inc., of Pawtucket, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 618,000 Star Wars Lightsaber toys for repair. The spring in the battery compartments of these toys can dislodge, causing the batteries to overheat or rupture. This can cause burns to consumers. Hasbro has received 38 reports of Lightsaber batteries overheating, including six reports of batteries rupturing. There are three reports of minor burns to consumers, and one consumer reported experiencing eye irritation. There are two models of Lightsaber toys involved in this recall. The Darth Maul™ Double-Bladed Lightsaber has retractable red plastic "light blades" on both sides of a metallic-gray hand grip. When the blades are fully extended, the toy is 5 feet long. The Qui-Gon Jinn™ Lightsaber has a single retractable "light blade" made of green plastic that extends from a metallic-gray hand grip to about 3 feet. Both Lightsaber toys operate with two "C" batteries. The plastic blades on double-bladed Lightsaber light up when struck against another object, and the single-bladed Lightsaber stays continually lit when turned on. Both feature energy "humming," "charge-up" and motion-activated battle crash sounds. Mass merchandise and toy stores nationwide sold these Lightsabers from May 1999 through June 1999 for $20 to $30. Consumers should stop using these Lightsabers immediately, and call Hasbro to get a free repair kit. The repair kit contains instructions on how to install a battery protector. To get this repair kit or for more information, consumers should call Hasbro at (800) 327-8264 anytime, or go to their website at www.hasbro.com. Consumers also can write to: Hasbro Lightsaber Repair Program, P.O. Box 200, Pawtucket, RI 02862. Lightsabers currently being sold with the sticker, "Now with battery protector" are not part of this recall.

Hazard

The spring in the battery compartments of these toys can dislodge, causing the batteries to overheat or rupture. This can cause burns to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Hasbro has received 38 reports of Lightsaber batteries overheating, including six reports of batteries rupturing. There are three reports of minor burns to consumers, and one consumer reported experiencing eye irritation.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these Lightsabers immediately, and call Hasbro to get a free repair kit. The repair kit contains instructions on how to install a battery protector. To get this repair kit or for more information, consumers should call Hasbro at (800) 327-8264 anytime, or go to their website at www.hasbro.com. Consumers also can write to: Hasbro Lightsaber Repair Program, P.O. Box 200, Pawtucket, RI 02862.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) 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.