Mountain bike suspension forks

CPSC Recall #95-032 - November 30, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-032
Recall DateNovember 30, 1994
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 21,000

Product

Mountain bike suspension forks

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of its ongoing investigation of injuries associated with mountain biking, CPSC, and the following four companies are announcing the companies' voluntary recall of about 21,000 mountain bike suspension forks. The forks, which connect the front wheel to the main frame of a mountain bike, may crack, break, or separate, in various locations, depending on the make and model. With a broken suspension fork, riders can lose control of the bike, fall, and seriously injure themselves. Since the summer of 1994, CPSC has received at least 25 reports of bike accidents from suspension forks that broke, cracked, or separated, resulting in 8 injuries. The following companies are participating in this recall: COMPANY MAKE/MODEL DISTRIBUTION DATES PROBLEM Marzocchi Suspension Ctr. Valencia, CA (800) 227-5579 XC50,XC51,XC250, XC400, XC500 1992-1993 7,000 sold Fork crowns may break or fracture. Girvin Inc. Woonsocket, RI (800) 447-3824 Fastrax forks on Proflex Arcadia 454/554 5/93-12/93 2,239 sold Loss of steering from adhesive in fork crown and steer tube. Specialized Bicycle Components Morgan Hill, CA (800) 214-1468 Future Shock FS 9/91-11/93 12,500 sold Stanchion tubes separate from fork crown. Answer Products Inc. Valencia, CA (800) 423-0273 Manitou 2 & M Sport 7/92-12/92 1,000 sold Fork crowns crack or break. CPSC and the companies urge consumers to stop using bicycles that have these suspension forks immediately and contact the manufacturer or a local authorized dealer. Owners of recalled suspension forks will receive instructions for repairing or replacing the forks.

Hazard

The forks, which connect the front wheel to the main frame of a mountain bike, may crack, break, or separate, in various locations, depending on the make and model. With a broken suspension fork, riders can lose control of the bike, fall, and seriously injure themselves.

Incidents & Injuries

Since the summer of 1994, CPSC has received at least 25 reports of bike accidents from suspension forks that broke, cracked, or separated, resulting in 8 injuries.

Remedy Instructions

CPSC and the companies urge consumers to stop using bicycles that have these suspension forks immediately and contact the manufacturer or a local authorized dealer. Owners of recalled suspension forks will receive instructions for repairing or replacing the forks.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, Repair 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, Repair) 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.