Mobile Power Packs
CPSC Recall #10-169 — March 16, 2010
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 10-169 |
| Recall Date | March 16, 2010 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 5,000 |
| Manufacturer | Tumi, of South Plainfield, N.J. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Tumi retail stores |
| department and specialty stores nationwide and www.Tumi.com from August 2007 through March 2008 for $135. |
Product
Mobile Power Packs
Description
The recalled Mobile Power Pack is a mobile device that receives an AC charge in a compact battery pack that will then give five DC charges to small electronic devices including mobile phones, MP-3 players, Blackberries, and PDAs. The power pack is black and silver and is rectangular in shape. The front of it has a small circular control panel. The front also displays the word "Tumi" engraved on a silver button located towards the bottom of the device. Style number 14362 is printed on the power pack packaging.
Hazard
The lithium-ion cells used in the Mobile Power Pack can ignite or explode while charging, posing a fire hazard. This hazard is only present for units that have not been charged.
Incidents & Injuries
There were two reports of consumers experiencing small fires during their initial charge. No injuries were reported.
Remedy Instructions
If the unit has not been used and has never been charged, please do not try to charge. Contact Tumi customer care for instructions on how to return the power pack and receive a free replacement power pack. If you have charged the unit previously without incident, you can continue to use the product.
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.
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.