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Gas Surface Cooktops

CPSC Recall #85-050 - October 9, 1985

Recall Summary

Recall Number85-050
Recall DateOctober 9, 1985
Remedy TypeRepair

Product

Gas Surface Cooktops

Description

Tappan Company, Mansfield, Ohio, today announced a repair program to correct a possible fire hazard on certain gas surface cooktops produced between 1971 and 1982 under the Tappan, O'Keefe & Merritt and Montgomery Ward "Signature" brands.The program will include a notification to more than 7,000 independent Tappan service organizations nationwide and will also include consumer advertisements in Southern California and Neveda, where approximately 65,000 of the 113,000 units produced may be in use, particularly in mobile home applications.The problem involves an assembly supplied to Tappan by Robertshaw Controls Company of Richmond,.Virginia, in which metal clamps used to secure the top burner valves to the gas manifold may experience excessive corrosion and potential breakage. Should this occur, the gas valve can break away from the manifold, permitting, gas to escape and leading to the possibility of fire.Approximately 50 incidents of breakage, some of which involved gas leaks and fire, have been attributed to this situation. The ranges involved are all four-burner gas surface units. The Tappan/O'Keefe & Merritt model numbers are: Z-14-3622; 14-3621; Z-14-6311; 14-6311 and 14-3671. The Mongtomery Ward "Signature" models are: KTM-3966; KTM-3963 and KTM-3960. Only approximately 3,500 of the units involved were produced under the Mongtomery Ward "Signature" brand.Consumers who have one of these units should call Tappan at l-800-624-2209. In California call l-800-841-6243. To find the model number, lift the cooktop; the model number will be on a label at the left rear corner of the burner box (see attached drawing).Free inspection and repair will be made. Only built-in, four burner gas cooktops are involved. Other Tappan/O'Keefe & Merritt and Mongtomery Ward "Signature" ranges are not involved.Consumers may call the CPSC toll-free Hotline for information at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.

Hazard

Metal clamps used to secure the top burner valves to the gas manifold may experience excessive corrosion and potential breakage. Should this occur, the gas valve can break away from the manifold, permitting, gas to escape and leading to the possibility of fire.

Incidents & Injuries

Approximately 50 incidents of breakage, some of which involved gas leaks and fire, have been attributed to this situation.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who have one of these units should call Tappan; free inspection and repair will be made.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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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 (Repair) 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.

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