Blue Rhino propane cylinders
CPSC Recall #00-173 — August 29, 2000
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 00-173 |
| Recall Date | August 29, 2000 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | 4,700 |
Where It Was Sold
| Home center |
| discount department and hardware stores |
| and gas stations in Pennsylvania |
| New Jersey |
| Maryland |
| Delaware |
| Virginia |
| West Virginia |
| Florida and Mississippi sold these propane cylinders from May 2000 through July 2000 for about $40 to $60 for a tank or $13 to $16 for a tank exchange. |
Product
Blue Rhino propane cylinders
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), R4 Technical Center - North Carolina LLC, of Hamptonville, N.C., is recalling 4,700 propane cylinders. These cylinders can have missing or damaged internal seals in the cylinder valves. Propane can leak, posing a risk of fire, explosion and burn injuries.R4 Technical Center has not received any reports of injuries.These propane cylinders have a sleeve over the tank with the writing "Blue Rhino" and a drawing of a blue rhinoceros. The recalled cylinders have either three stars arranged in a triangular shape under the top knob of the valve or the writing "B-75-3" on the side of the valve.Home center, discount department and hardware stores, and gas stations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida and Mississippi sold these propane cylinders from May 2000 through July 2000 for about $40 to $60 for a tank or $13 to $16 for a tank exchange.Consumers with the recalled valves should check for leaks by following the "Connection Instructions" on the cylinder's label. If the valve is leaking, turn it off immediately, and call the R4 Technical Center toll-free at (866) 802-4492 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement cylinder. If you cannot access the toll-free number from your calling area, contact Blue Rhino at (800) 258-7466.
Hazard
These cylinders can have missing or damaged internal seals in the cylinder valves. Propane can leak, posing a risk of fire, explosion and burn injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
R4 Technical Center has not received any reports of injuries.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers with the recalled valves should check for leaks by following the "Connection Instructions" on the cylinder's label. If the valve is leaking, turn it off immediately, and call the R4 Technical Center toll-free at (866) 802-4492 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement cylinder. If you cannot access the toll-free number from your calling area, contact Blue Rhino at (800) 258-7466.
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.
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.
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.