Motorized window coverings with lithium batteries
CPSC Recall #17-743 — May 5, 2017
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 17-743 |
| Recall Date | May 5, 2017 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 59,100 in the U.S. (in addition, about 2,100 were sold in Canada) |
| Manufacturer | Springs Window Fashions LLC, of Middleton, Wisc. (window coverings), Great Power Battery (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. of China (batteries) |
| Manufactured In | China (batteries) |
Where It Was Sold
| Budget Blinds |
| Gotcha Covered |
| Home Depot |
| Lowe’s |
| JC Penney |
| Menards and independent Graber dealers nationwide |
| and online at Blinds.com from December 2015 through November 2016 for between $250 and $1 |
| 000. |
Product
Motorized window coverings with lithium batteries
Description
This recall involves custom motorized window coverings that were sold with Zeus brand AA lithium batteries. Window coverings with batteries included in this recall were sold under the Bali, Graber, and Signature Series brands, and as private labeled products of Blinds Galore and JCP Home. The custom window coverings include cellular, roller, Roman (fabric and natural shades), pleated, sheer and layered shades, and wood blinds. Only Zeus brand AA lithium batteries are included in this recall.
Hazard
The lithium batteries that power the motorized window coverings can overheat, leak or discharge, posing fire and burn hazards.
Incidents & Injuries
Springs Window Fashions has received four reports that the batteries overheated, leaked or discharged, including one report of a minor burn.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using and remove the Zeus brand batteries from the window coverings. Springs Window Fashions will ship batteries and instructions directly to consumers. Consumers can contact Springs Window Fashions for additional information.
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.