Klackeroo toys

CPSC Recall #00-181 — September 13, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-181
Recall DateSeptember 13, 2000
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 550,000
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Toy and mass merchandise stores
including Toys "R" Us and Wal- Mart
sold these toys from October 1997 through September 2000 for about $8.

Product

Klackeroo toys

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Playskool, of Pawtucket, R.I., is voluntarily recalling to replace about 550,000 Klackeroo toys. The toy's brightly colored end knobs can detach and allow small, geometric-shaped pieces to come loose, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.Playskool has received 10 reports of the toy's knobs detaching to release small parts, including four reports of a small part from the toy being found in the mouths of infants and young children. There have been no reported injuries.Playskool's Klackeroo is a brightly colored toy with orange plastic rods and small geometric shapes that move through a center purple ball. Solid-colored knobs with animal faces or the sun and moon imprinted on them cap both ends of each orange rod. When shaken, the rods move through the ball and the geometric shapes slide along each rod, making a "clacking" sound. The knobs are green, yellow, blue and red. The Playskool logo is imprinted on one end knob and "MADE IN CHINA" is imprinted on the center ball.Toy and mass merchandise stores, including Toys "R" Us and Wal- Mart, sold these toys from October 1997 through September 2000 for about $8.Parents and caregivers should take the toy away from infants and young children immediately, and contact Playskool anytime at (800) 752-9755 to receive a free, redesigned replacement toy.The recalled products will be replaced by a redesigned Klackeroo toy (model number 5542) which will feature a red center ball with no sliding geometric shapes.

Hazard

The toy's brightly colored end knobs can detach and allow small, geometric-shaped pieces to come loose, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.

Incidents & Injuries

Playskool has received 10 reports of the toy's knobs detaching to release small parts, including four reports of a small part from the toy being found in the mouths of infants and young children. There have been no reported injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Parents and caregivers should take the toy away from infants and young children immediately, and contact Playskool anytime at (800) 752-9755 to receive a free, redesigned replacement toy.

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.

Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.

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.