BISSELL Trio Vac model 3005 (single speed) and model 3005w (canister kit) vacuums
CPSC Recall #93-104 - August 18, 1993
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 93-104 |
| Recall Date | August 18, 1993 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 13,000 |
Product
BISSELL Trio Vac model 3005 (single speed) and model 3005w (canister kit) vacuums
Description
PRODUCT: Approximately 13,000 BISSELL Trio Vac model 3005 (single speed) and model 3005w (canister kit) vacuums manufactured during 1992 and sold nationwide by major retailers through June 1993. PROBLEM: The vacuum's plastic fan may break into pieces causing the housing to crack open and the fan pieces to propel from the vacuum's housing. BISSELL has received 40 reports of such incidents including 12 reported injuries. WHAT TO DO: Consumers who bought BISSELL Trio Vacuums through June 1993 should immediately stop using them and call BISSELL Customer Service at 1-800-237-7691, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BISSELL, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, is voluntarily recalling the BISSELL Trio Vac model 3005 (single speed) and model 3005W (canister kit) vacuums manufactured in 1992. These models convert from full-length to hand-held vacuums and have plastic fans. The vacuum's plastic fan may break into pieces causing the housing to crack open and the hard, sharp fan pieces to be propelled from the vacuum's housing. Models with plastic fans were sold through June 1993. BISSELL has received 40 consumer reports of product failures including 12 reports of injuries. While most injuries were minor cuts and bruises to the lower body, two injuries occurred at eye level. Approximately 13,000 vacuums were sold nationwide through major retailers for about $50 or $60, depending on the model. After receiving retailer returns and direct calls from consumers regarding failed fans, BISSELL began a product recall and reported the problem to CPSC. Consumers who bought BISSELL Trio Vacuums through June 1993 should immediately stop using them and check the date stamp. To check the date stamp, remove the dirt collection tank and read the six digit number which appears on the inside of the bottom motor housing. The first two numbers are the year. If the numbers are 93, the vacuum has a metal fan design and does not need to be returned. If the numbers are 92 or no numbers are visible, the vacuum must be returned to BISSELL Inc. Please call BISSELL Customer Service: 1-800-237-7691, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. BISSELL will replace the 1992 vacuums with 1993 vacuums containing a metal fan or provide a full refund of the purchase price. BISSELL has extensive data verifying the integrity of the 1993 fan design. Postage for the returned 1992 vacuums will be reimbursed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as a 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 vacuum's plastic fan may break into pieces causing the housing to crack open and the fan pieces to propel from the vacuum's housing.
Incidents & Injuries
BISSELL has received 40 consumer reports of product failures including 12 reports of injuries. While most injuries were minor cuts and bruises to the lower body, two injuries occurred at eye level.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who bought BISSELL Trio Vacuums through June 1993 should immediately stop using them and call BISSELL Customer Service at 1-800-237-7691. BISSELL will replace the 1992 vacuums with 1993 vacuums containing a metal fan or provide a full refund of the 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.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.