Sunbeam-Oster 1,000-watt electric indoor grill with the gray Nu-Stone plastic base
CPSC Recall #94-010 - November 11, 1993
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 94-010 |
| Recall Date | November 11, 1993 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | About 4,500 |
Product
Sunbeam-Oster 1,000-watt electric indoor grill with the gray Nu-Stone plastic base
Description
PRODUCT: Approximately 4,500 Sunbeam-Oster Household Products' discontinued 1,000-watt electric indoor grills with the gray "Nu-Stone" plastic base. The grills were sold between September 1992 and June 1993. Affected grills have a "1,000-watt" designation and the number "E992" stamped on the portion of the grill's heating element that attaches to the variable temperature control. PROBLEM: The grill can cause grease fires if users repeatedly grill food containing a high fat content without emptying accumulated grease between batches. The company has received four returns to date due to smoking of the indoor grills; no grease fires or injuries have been reported. WHAT TO DO: Consumers who purchased the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to discontinue use and return them to Sunbeam-Oster for a replacement or a refund (at the consumer's option). For more information, consumers should call 1-800-986-0008. WASHINGTON, DC -- Sunbeam-Oster Household Products, Schaumburg, IL, CPSC, today announced the voluntary recall of its discontinued 1,000-watt electric indoor grill with the gray Nu-Stone plastic base, which can cause grease fires under certain circumstances. The affected grills were sold between September 1992 and June 1993. The recall does not involve any other Sunbeam or Oster grills or products. The recall is limited to the 1,000-watt variable temperature electric indoor grills with the gray Nu-Stone plastic base and patented "Griffo" porcelain grid, model numbers 4757 (Sunbeam brand) and 4772 (Oster brand). The Sunbeam brand sold for about $30.00 and the Oster brand sold for about $45.00. Sunbeam-Oster no longer manufactures the 1000-watt indoor grill with gray Nu-Stone base. Current versions are sold with an 800-watt element. The company believes that while the product is not defective, repeatedly grilling food containing a high fat content without emptying accumulated grease between batches could cause a fire. Consumers who purchased the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to discontinue use and return them to Sunbeam-Oster, which will (at the consumer's option) either replace the unit with a new 800-watt version of the grill or refund the full purchase price. To assist consumers, Sunbeam-Oster has established a toll-free number, 1-800-986-0008, which owners of the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to call. The company will send prepaid return mailing cartons to indoor grill owners. About 6,600 indoor grills were shipped to retailers in September 1992 and fewer than 4,500 grills remain in the hands of consumers. To date, the company has received four returns due to smoking of the indoor grills. No injuries have been reported. The grills being recalled are the 1,000-watt indoor electric grills with a gray Nu-Stone base. Owners of Sunbeam or Oster brand indoor grills can determine whether their grill is being recalled by looking for the 1,000-watt designation and the number E992 stamped on the portion of the grill's heating element that attaches to the variable temperature control. The Recall Applies Only to 1,000 Watt Sunbeam-Oster Electric Indoor Grills with Gray Plastic Nu-Stone Bases. CPSC is joining in the announcement of this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.
Hazard
The grill can cause grease fires if users repeatedly grill food containing a high fat content without emptying accumulated grease between batches.
Incidents & Injuries
To date, the company has received four returns due to smoking of the indoor grills. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who purchased the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to discontinue use and return them to Sunbeam-Oster, which will (at the consumer's option) either replace the unit with a new 800-watt version of the grill or refund the full purchase price.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, 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.