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"Battlestar Galactica" space toys with missiles

CPSC Recall #79-001 - January 10, 1979

Recall Summary

Recall Number79-001
Recall DateJanuary 10, 1979
Remedy TypeReplace

Product

"Battlestar Galactica" space toys with missiles

Description

HAWTHORNE, CALIF. (January 11) -- Mattel, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced that it has voluntarily initiated a "Missile Mail-In" campaign to reduce the possibility of accidents which might occur in connection with four of its "Battlestar Galactica" space toys.Each of the four toys is sold with a set of small red plastic missiles which can be launched from each toy. Although all of the products meet or exceed all existing and ration proposed safety standards, there have been instances of accidental swallowing or aspiration of a missile including one reported death of a four-year-old child.The "Missile Mail-In" plan offers parents and children the opportunity to mail all of their remaining small 1-1/4 inch red plastic missiles to Mattel and receive in return a free "Hot Wheels" car. Missiles should be mailed to:Mattel Mail-InP.O. Box 813Hawthorne, California 90250Missiles should be mailed along with the consumer's name and address. To encourage immediate response, this program will expire on March 1, 1979.The missiles accompany Mattel's "Colonial Viper" (No. 2531), "Colonial Scarab" (No. 2534), "Colonial Stellar Probe" (No. 2533), and "Cylon Raider" (No. 2532) space vehicles.Mattel and the Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that the Mail-In program was initiated to remove the possibility of an accident and to inform parents of the need to caution children regarding small objects of any type which might be put in the mouth. At the same time, the offer of a free "Hot Wheels" miniature car is intended to compensate for any loss of play value due to return of the missiles.In addition to the mail program, Mattel announced that it has redesigned the four "Battlestar Galactica" toys for 1979 so that, missiles cannot be launched from the body of the toys. Retail and wholesale inventories of the 1978 product are currently being exchanged for the redesigned toys.For further information, consumers may call Mattel toll-free on 800-421-2826; California residents call collect to 213-644-2752. Letters may be addressed to Mattel, Inc., at 5150 Rosecrans Avenue, Hawthorne, California 90250.To verify model numbers, consumers can call the toll-free CPSC Hotline on 800-638-2772.

Hazard

Each of the four toys is sold with a set of small red plastic missiles which can be launched from each toy. Although all of the products meet or exceed all existing and ration proposed safety standards, there have been instances of accidental swallowing or aspiration of a missile including one reported death of a four-year-old child.

Incidents & Injuries

Although all of the products meet or exceed all existing and ration proposed safety standards, there have been instances of accidental swallowing or aspiration of a missile including one reported death of a four-year-old child.

Remedy Instructions

The "Missile Mail-In" plan offers parents and children the opportunity to mail all of their remaining small 1-1/4 inch red plastic missiles to Mattel and receive in return a free "Hot Wheels" car. To encourage immediate response, this program will expire on March 1, 1979.In addition to the mail program, Mattel announced that it has redesigned the four "Battlestar Galactica" toys for 1979 so that missiles cannot be launched from the body of the toys. Retail and wholesale inventories of the 1978 product are currently being exchanged for the redesigned toys.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (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.

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