Curtain-Style Holiday Lights
CPSC Recall #98038 - December 9, 1997
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 98038 |
| Recall Date | December 9, 1997 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | More than 1.5 million |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail stores |
| including BJ's Wholesale |
| Builders Square |
| CVS Pharmacy |
| Caldor |
| Frank's Nursery & Crafts |
| Hechinger |
| Hobby Lobby |
| Home Quarters |
| M J Designs |
| Montgomery Ward |
| Rite Aid Pharmacy |
| Sam's Club |
| Shopko |
| Venture |
| Walgreens and Wal-Mart sold the lights nationwide from September 1995 to November 1997 for between $6 and $19 |
| depending on the size of the sets purchased. |
Product
Curtain-Style Holiday Lights
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), retailers nationwide are recalling more than 1.5 million sets of curtain-style, indoor/outdoor holiday lights. The electrical wiring can pull out from the splices of these decorative light sets, exposing live wires and presenting an electrocution hazard.CPSC is not aware of any injuries involving these lights. This recall is being issued to prevent the possibility of injury.The recalled curtain-style strings of lights are different from other decorative holiday lights because they use a horizontal electrical wire and have vertical strings of four to seven lights that hang down to give an icicle effect when hung on a roof's edge or a tree. These lights have a "splicing connector" located at the point where the string of lights hang down from the horizontal electrical wire. The splicing connector can pull apart or break exposing a metal wire, causing the electrical shock.To see if you have these indoor/outdoor lights, check for the names "Curtain," "Icicle" and "Wonder Lights." These miniature lights come in strings of clear bulbs and multicolored bulbs, and have either white or green wires. They were sold in strings of 100 or 150 lights in boxes containing one string, and sets of three or more strings.According to Underwriters Laboratories (UL), unauthorized holographic UL labels, located on each string near the plug, with the following numbers identify the lights being recalled:E115759 E126258 E127357 E127522E48723 E64444 E65770 E97593Curtain-style lights without splice connectors are not involved in this recall.The lights are packaged in cardboard display boxes, some with a cellophane window to view the product, and are labeled in part, "Made in China." Many of the boxes feature a decorated home at night with the holiday lights on.Retail stores, including BJ's Wholesale, Builders Square, CVS Pharmacy, Caldor, Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Hechinger, Hobby Lobby, Home Quarters, M J Designs, Montgomery Ward, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Sam's Club, Shopko, Venture, Walgreens and Wal-Mart sold the lights nationwide from September 1995 to November 1997 for between $6 and $19, depending on the size of the sets purchased.Consumers should stop using these light sets immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers with questions about this recall should call or visit the local retail store where they purchased the lights, or contact CPSC's toll-free hotline at (800) 638-2772. More safety information for trees, lights, decorations, and fireplaces is available from our holiday safety press release.
Hazard
The electrical wiring can pull out from the splices of these decorative light sets, exposing live wires and presenting an electrocution hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC is not aware of any injuries involving these lights. This recall is being issued to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these light sets immediately and return them to the 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.
No, you should stop using the product entirely, not just unplug it. Electric shock and fire hazards in recalled electrical products often involve internal wiring defects, faulty components, or insulation failures that can cause harm even after the product has been off for a period of time. Do not attempt to repair the product yourself. Keep it unplugged and stored safely until you receive the manufacturer's remedy. If the product has already shown signs of overheating, sparking, or discoloration, handle it carefully and consider contacting your local fire department for guidance on safe disposal.
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.