Flying Warrior dolls
CPSC Recall #98-161 - September 1, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 98-161 |
| Recall Date | September 1, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 670,000 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Toy stores nationwide sold the dolls from April 1995 through December 1997 for about $7. |
Product
Flying Warrior dolls
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tara Toy Corp. of Hauppauge, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 670,000 Flying Warrior dolls. During use, the wings of these flying dolls can break off, causing serious injuries to consumers. CPSC and Tara Toy Corp. have received four reports of the doll's wing breaking off during use. Two children suffered serious eye injuries, including a shattered iris and cataract development that required an artificial lens, and resulted in partial loss of sight. A cut under the eye and a broken front tooth also have resulted. The Flying Warrior dolls, measuring about 7 inches tall, are made of colored and metallic plastic. There are four warriors: "Rotor," "Blades," "Gyro" and "Spin." The warriors have plastic metallic bodies with green, blue, red, and yellow uniform accents. Their arms are attached to yellow or red wings with accent colors. The warriors are placed on launchers, which have a pull cord to release the doll into the air. The launchers also have a foam missile that can be released into the air. The words, "Made in China" are embossed onto the back of the warrior's leg. "Tara Toy Corp...Made in China" is embossed on the launcher. The dolls are packaged in colorful cardboard window boxes. "Flying Warriors...Tara" is printed on the front of the box. Toy stores nationwide sold the dolls from April 1995 through December 1997 for about $7. Consumers should stop using the dolls immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information about this recall, consumers should call Tara Toy Corp. toll-free at (888) 669-7087 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.
Hazard
During use, the wings of these flying dolls can break off, causing serious injuries to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Tara Toy Corp. have received four reports of the doll's wing breaking off during use. Two children suffered serious eye injuries, including a shattered iris and cataract development that required an artificial lens, and resulted in partial loss of sight. A cut under the eye and a broken front tooth also have resulted.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the dolls 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.
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.