Big Bird Battery-Powered Toothbrush
CPSC Recall #92023 - November 25, 1991
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 92023 |
| Recall Date | November 25, 1991 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Approximately 330,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The toothbrushes were sold nationwide under the Ideal and Tyco brand names through toy |
| variety and discount stores |
| and limited catalog mail-order sales. |
Product
Big Bird Battery-Powered Toothbrush
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tyco Toys, Inc., Moorestown, NJ, announced today that it is voluntarily recalling "Big Bird Sparklin Smile" battery operated toothbrush (stock no. 2524). Approximately 330,000 of these products were sold between 1986 and 1991 for up to $10.00 each. The toothbrushes were sold nationwide under the Ideal and Tyco brand names through toy, variety and discount stores, and limited catalog mail-order sales. The Big Bird toothbrush uses four "AA" size batteries. If one of the batteries is inadvertently reversed, the battery may rupture or leak. Tyco has received three reports of minor burn injuries to children from leaking batteries and has learned from a news report that an exploding battery in this toothbrush may have caused serious eye injury to an adult. While these incidents appear to be due to defective batteries or improperly installed batteries, Tyco is recalling the toothbrush to eliminate the possibility of any further incidents. For a refund of the purchase price, consumers who have the Big Bird toothbrush should mail it to: Tyco Industries - Toothbrush Recall, 540 Glen Avenue, Moorestown, NJ 08057. No other Sesame Street toys, Ideal toys or Tyco toys are affected by this recall. For additional information about the toothbrush recall consumers may call Tyco toll-free at 1-800-822-5574 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). Retailers are being instructed to remove these products from shelves and return them to Tyco. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is participating in this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for consumer product safety. Some 15,000 different types of consumer products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction. Tyco Toys, Inc. the fourth largest U.S. toy manufacturer, distributes a broad line of products worldwide including radio controlled toys, electric racing toys, dolls, and activity toys.
Hazard
The Big Bird toothbrush uses four "AA" size batteries. If one of the batteries is inadvertently reversed, the battery may rupture or leak. Tyco has received three reports of minor burn injuries to children from leaking batteries and has learned from a news report that an exploding battery in this toothbrush may have caused serious eye injury to an adult.
Incidents & Injuries
Tyco has received three reports of minor burn injuries to children from leaking batteries and has learned from a news report that an exploding battery in this toothbrush may have caused serious eye injury to an adult.
Remedy Instructions
For a refund of the purchase price, consumers who have the Big Bird toothbrush should mail it to: Tyco Industries - Toothbrush Recall, 540 Glen Avenue, Moorestown, NJ 08057. No other Sesame Street toys, Ideal toys or Tyco toys are affected by this recall.
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.
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.