Flushmate® III Pressure-Assist Flushing System
CPSC Recall #12-201 — June 20, 2012
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 12-201 |
| Recall Date | June 20, 2012 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 2,330,600 in the U.S. and 9,400 in Canada |
| Manufacturer | Flushmate, of New Hudson, Mich., a division of Sloan Valve Company |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| The Home Depot and Lowe's stores |
| distributors and plumbing contractors nationwide for about $108 |
| and sold to toilet manufacturers including American Standard |
| Crane |
| Eljer |
| Gerber |
| Kohler |
| Mansfield and St. Thomas. |
Product
Flushmate® III Pressure-Assist Flushing System
Description
The Flushmate III system can burst, shatter toilet tank, injure users. Flushmate has received 304 reports of systems bursting, resulting in property damage and 14 injuries.
Hazard
The system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure. This pressure can lift the tank lid and shatter the tank, posing impact or laceration hazards to consumers and property damage.
Incidents & Injuries
Flushmate has received 304 reports of the product bursting, resulting in property damage and 14 impact or laceration injuries.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately turn off the water supply to the recalled Flushmate III unit and stop using the system. Consumers should contact the firm to determine if their Flushmate III serial number is included in the recall and to request a free repair kit.
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.
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.
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.