Model 5101 oil-filled electric radiator heaters
CPSC Recall #05-094 — January 25, 2005
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-094 |
| Recall Date | January 25, 2005 |
| Remedy Type | No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | 70,000 |
| Manufacturer | Lakewood Engineering & Mfg. Co., of Chicago, Ill. |
Where It Was Sold
| Retailers nationwide |
| including Wal-Mart and Ace Hardware |
| from August 2004 through November 13 |
| 2004 for between $34 and $40. |
Product
Model 5101 oil-filled electric radiator heaters
Description
The recalled heaters are portable electric radiator-style heaters with six fins, one of which has the control panel attached to it. The units are grayish-white in color and have the name "Lakewood" printed below the handle indentation on the control panel. The model number "5101" is printed on the UL label on the lower right side of the control panel.
Hazard
Welds can rupture, expelling hot oil that can burn nearby consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Lakewood is aware of 28 reports of incidents, including one burn injury from spewing oil. An additional 14 heaters with ruptured welds have been returned to Lakewood.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using these heaters, unplug, disable and discard them. The firm is out of business, and a remedy is no longer available.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a No Remedy Available 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 (No Remedy Available) 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.