Kohler Helios and Sterling Freestyle Shower Doors
CPSC Recall #02-073 - December 19, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-073 |
| Recall Date | December 19, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 41,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Home centers |
| showrooms |
| plumbers and building contractors sold the Kohler and Sterling doors nationwide from January 1997 through October 2001. The suggested list price started at about $440. |
Product
Kohler Helios and Sterling Freestyle Shower Doors
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kohler Co., of Kohler, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 41,000 shower doors. The door hinges can fail, causing the shower door to fall and injure nearby consumers.Kohler has received 11 reports of hinges failing and shower doors falling, including one report of minor injuries, such as cuts and scratches from sharp edges on the door's frame.The recalled shower doors include the Kohler Helios and Sterling Freestyle models made from January 1997 through September 2001. The hinges on the Helios and Freestyle models operate in a unique way which allows the doors to swing back and forth. The door panels can retract side to side without the use of anchored track guides common to many shower doors. The shower doors were distributed for shower enclosure and bathtub applications in both single and double door configurations in a variety of sizes. They were sold in chrome, brass and white frame finishes, and with a variety of glass treatments.Home centers, showrooms, plumbers and building contractors sold the Kohler and Sterling doors nationwide from January 1997 through October 2001. The suggested list price started at about $440.Consumers should stop using the shower doors immediately and contact Kohler to receive a replacement door. For more information, consumers can contact Kohler at (866) 782-6329 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
Hazard
The door hinges can fail, causing the shower door to fall and injure nearby consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Kohler has received 11 reports of hinges failing and shower doors falling, including one report of minor injuries, such as cuts and scratches from sharp edges on the door's frame.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the shower doors immediately and contact Kohler to receive a replacement door.
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.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
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.