T-Fal Deep Fryers with Fixed Pots
CPSC Recall #97-089 — March 24, 1997
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97-089 |
| Recall Date | March 24, 1997 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Replace |
| Units Affected | About 29,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Major retail stores nationwide (including Ames |
| Bradlees |
| and Hills) and QVC (home shopping television program) sold the deep fryers from May through December 1996 for about $50 to $70. |
Product
T-Fal Deep Fryers with Fixed Pots
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), T-Fal Corp. of Pine Brook, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 29,000 deep fryers with fixed pots. Some of these deep fryers have heating elements that can overheat, presenting a risk of burn injuries.T-Fal has received 25 reports of the deep fryers' heating elements overheating, which resulted in the units' bases beginning to melt. While some counter tops have been damaged, T-Fal is not aware of any injuries or fires involving these deep fryers. There are three models of deep fryers subject to this recall. The models involved in this recall have fixed pots and were manufactured during particular weeks of 1996, as indicated in the following table. Model NameModel No.Date ManufacturedSuperclean Midi3350Manufactured during weeks 22 through 30 of 1996Superclean Maxi3358Manufactured during week 45 of 1996Superclean Maxi3360Manufactured during weeks 26 and 46 of 1996The model number and date manufactured is printed on a silver label affixed to the units' bases. The model number follows the word "CODE." The date manufactured is located above the words "MADE IN MEXICO." The week is indicated by the two-digit number and the year is indicated by the single-digit number.The fixed pot "Superclean Midi" fryer (model 3350) displays the words, "T-FAL SUPERCLEAN SAFETY FRYER MIDI." The fixed pot "Superclean Maxi" fryer (models 3358 and 3360) displays the words, "T-FAL SUPERCLEAN SAFETY FRYER MAXI." The fryers all have a molded white plastic exterior and a lid that opens on a hinge and locks into place.The deep fryers are packaged in a cardboard carton labeled in part, "T-FAL SUPERCLEAN SAFETY FRYER." Labeling on the carton is written in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The carton displays a picture of the deep fryer.Major retail stores nationwide (including Ames, Bradlees, and Hills) and QVC (home shopping television program) sold the deep fryers from May through December 1996 for about $50 to $70.Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryers subject to this recall and call T-Fal toll-free at (800) 395-8325. T-Fal will inspect the fryers and provide a free replacement to consumers who own fryers with problem heating elements. No T-Fal deep fryers with removable pots or fryers with fixed pots manufactured during other weeks are involved in this recall.
Hazard
Some of these deep fryers have heating elements that can overheat, presenting a risk of burn injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
T-Fal has received 25 reports of the deep fryers' heating elements overheating, which resulted in the units' bases beginning to melt. While some counter tops have been damaged, T-Fal is not aware of any injuries or fires involving these deep fryers.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryers subject to this recall and call T-Fal, who will inspect the fryers and provide a free replacement to consumers who own fryers with problem heating elements.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, 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 (Inspect, Replace) 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.