Portable jumpstart power supplies

CPSC Recall #15-123 — April 28, 2015

Recall Summary

Recall Number15-123
Recall DateApril 28, 2015
Remedy TypeNo Remedy Available
Units AffectedAbout 10,400
ImporterThe Whistler Group, Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Hammacher Schlemmer
Radio Shack
Walmart and other retail stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com
Sears.com and Staples.com from May 2014 to October 2014 for between $60 and $120.

Product

Portable jumpstart power supplies

Description

Whistler Recalls Jump&Go Portable Jumpstart and Power Supply Units Due to Fire Hazard

Hazard

The jumpstart's lithium battery can overheat and cause the units to melt, catch fire and ignite nearby items, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Whistler has received 45 reports of jumpstart and power supply units overheating and melting, including 18 reports of fire, resulting in approximately $16,000 in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

The remedy is no longer available for this recalled product. This product has a lithium-ion battery that must be disposed of differently than other batteries because they present a fire hazard. Follow local hazardous waste disposal procedures.

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.