Vehicle Safety
Recalls Search 320,000+ NHTSA safety recalls Complaints 2.1M+ consumer safety complaints TSBs 4.7M technical service bulletins VIN Lookup Decode any vehicle VIN instantly OBD Codes 12,000+ diagnostic trouble codes Fuel Economy EPA MPG data for all vehicles Safety Ratings 11,700+ NHTSA crash test ratings Investigations 5,300+ NHTSA defect investigations Statistics Recall trends & safety analysis
Consumer Safety
Product Safety 9,700+ CPSC product recalls Food Safety 28,600+ FDA food recalls Pet Safety 1.3M FDA animal adverse events Drug Safety 17,500+ FDA drug recalls Device Safety 38,400+ FDA device recalls Workplace Safety 102,900+ OSHA injury reports Brand History Cross-category recall lookup by company
Infrastructure
Bridge Safety 624,000 bridge inspections Aviation Safety 30,000+ NTSB aviation events Dam Safety 92,600 dam safety records Water Safety 433,000+ public water systems Railroad Safety 438,000+ rail crossings Pipeline Safety 8,800+ pipeline incidents State Safety Dashboards Safety grades for all 50 U.S. states ZIP Safety Report Check any 5-digit ZIP across 9 datasets
Public Health
Nursing Homes 14,700 CMS rated facilities Environmental 80,000+ hazardous sites & releases
Blog

Vehicle Safety

Vehicle Recalls320,000+ NHTSA safety recalls Browse VehiclesEvery make, model and year Complaints2.1M+ consumer safety complaints TSBs4.7M technical service bulletins VIN LookupDecode any vehicle VIN instantly OBD Codes12,000+ diagnostic trouble codes Fuel EconomyEPA MPG data for all vehicles Safety Ratings11,700+ NHTSA crash test ratings Investigations5,300+ NHTSA defect investigations StatisticsRecall trends & safety analysis Compare VehiclesTwo vehicles side by side

Consumer Safety

Product Safety9,700+ CPSC product recalls Food Safety28,600+ FDA food recalls Pet Safety1.3M FDA animal adverse events Drug Safety17,500+ FDA drug recalls Device Safety38,400+ FDA device recalls Workplace Safety102,900+ OSHA injury reports Brand HistoryRecall lookup by company

Infrastructure

Bridge Safety624,000 bridge inspections Aviation Safety30,000+ NTSB aviation events Dam Safety92,600 dam safety records Water Safety433,000+ public water systems Railroad Safety438,000+ rail crossings Pipeline Safety8,800+ pipeline incidents State DashboardsSafety grades for all 50 states ZIP ReportAny 5-digit ZIP across 9 datasets

Public Health

Nursing Homes14,700 CMS rated facilities Environmental80,000+ hazardous sites & releases BlogGuides, news & safety insights

First Alert True Fit safety gates

CPSC Recall #99-044 - December 28, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-044
Recall DateDecember 28, 1998
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 36,800

Where It Was Sold

Toys R Us
Hills and other stores sold the gates nationwide beginning in October 1996 for about $35.

Product

First Alert True Fit safety gates

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BRK Brands Inc., of Aurora, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 36,800 safety gates sold under the First Alert True Fit brand name. Plastic parts of the gate can break off into small pieces, creating a potential choking hazard to young children. In some cases, when parts break off, the gate will no longer be secure. BRK has received more than one thousand reports of plastic parts including bumpers, hinges, and parts of the handle breaking, sometimes into small pieces. BRK has received six reports of children having broken pieces in their mouths. No choking incidents were reported. All First Alert True Fit safety gates (model CSSG1) are being recalled. A label on each gate identifies it as "First Alert Model CSSG1." The gate is an expandable, pressure-mounted child security gate that also can be installed with screw-mounted hinges for a walk-through style gate. The gate is made of off-white plastic with a gray handle on top of the gate. One version of the gate fits openings from 28 inches to 47 inches wide; another version fits openings from 29.5 inches to 46 inches wide. Toys R Us, Hills and other stores sold the gates nationwide beginning in October 1996 for about $35. Consumers should stop using these gates immediately and call BRK toll-free at (888) 777-5599 (available 24 hours a day) to obtain a refund. In September 1997, BRK recalled the First Alert True Fit safety gates (model CSSG1) made from October 1996 through May 1997 and offered a free replacement gate to all owners. BRK is now recalling all First Alert True Fit safety gates (model CSSG1), including the replacement gates, for a full purchase price refund. BRK no longer manufactures child safety gates.

Hazard

Plastic parts of the gate can break off into small pieces, creating a potential choking hazard to young children. In some cases, when parts break off, the gate will no longer be secure.

Incidents & Injuries

BRK has received more than one thousand reports of plastic parts including bumpers, hinges, and parts of the handle breaking, sometimes into small pieces. BRK has received six reports of children having broken pieces in their mouths. No choking incidents were reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these gates immediately and call BRK toll-free at (888) 777-5599 (available 24 hours a day) to obtain a refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Browse All Product Recalls Recalls by Manufacturer Recalls by Retailer Browse by Hazard Type

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) at no cost to you.

Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside, if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.

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.

Back to All Product Recalls