Gymboree wooden trains
CPSC Recall #98-061 — February 3, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 98-061 |
| Recall Date | February 3, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 727 |
| Manufactured In | Thailand |
Where It Was Sold
| Gymboree stores nationwide sold the trains from October 1997 through November 1997 for about $24. |
Product
Gymboree wooden trains
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gymboree Corp. of Burlingame, Calif., is recalling 727 toy wooden trains. Wooden pieces of the toy can come off during play, exposing young children to small parts and presenting a choking hazard. CPSC and Gymboree have received three reports from consumers of small parts coming off the train. No injuries have been reported. The toy trains are made of wood and measure about 20 inches long when the three train cars are connected end to end. The train cars include a red, blue, orange and green engine; a red and green box car and a blue and purple dumpster. The train is packaged in an orange, blue and green box that reads, in part, "GYMBOREE, WOODEN TRAIN." A graphic of the train also appears on the box. The SKU number, located on the box, is 1103-0028. The toy was made in Thailand. Gymboree stores nationwide sold the trains from October 1997 through November 1997 for about $24. Consumers should take the trains away from children immediately and return them to the retail store where purchased for a refund. For more information about this recall, consumers should contact Gymboree at (800) 558-9885 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday.
Hazard
Wooden pieces of the toy can come off during play, exposing young children to small parts and presenting a choking hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Gymboree have received three reports from consumers of small parts coming off the train. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take the trains away from children immediately and return them to the retail store where purchased for 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.
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.