Extension Cord
CPSC Recall #97-018 - November 3, 1996
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97-018 |
| Recall Date | November 3, 1996 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 2,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Wholesalers and discount stores sold the cords nationwide from February 1993 to September 1996 for about $1. |
Product
Extension Cord
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), D-M Sales Corp., doing business as Supreme Import Export Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling 2,000 extension cords. The cord's wires are undersized, making the cord unsuitable for use because it cannot carry the same load as a properly constructed extension cord. The recalled cords present fire, shock, and electrocution hazards. CPSC and D-M Sales are not aware of any injuries involving these extension cords. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The brown, 9-foot extension cords are imprinted with the phrase, "SPT-2 VW-1 18 AWGX2C E135675 403801-001." The identification number E109853 is molded on the plug. The cords are packaged in a green cardboard sleeve labeled in part, "Supreme HOUSEHOLD EXTENSION CORD...9 FT...UPC #0 18285 00422 4 ..." Wholesalers and discount stores sold the cords nationwide from February 1993 to September 1996 for about $1. Consumers should stop using the recalled cords immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers should call D-M Sales Corp. (Supreme Import Export Inc.) at (800) 551-1113 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST. Consumers who live in the New York metropolitan area should call (718) 499-5454.
Hazard
The cord's wires are undersized, making the cord unsuitable for use because it cannot carry the same load as a properly constructed extension cord. The recalled cords present fire, shock, and electrocution hazards.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and D-M Sales are not aware of any injuries involving these extension cords. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled cords immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.
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.