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Recliner Chairs

CPSC Recall #96130 — May 22, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number96130
Recall DateMay 22, 1996
Remedy TypeRepair
Units Affected142,000

Where It Was Sold

Furniture stores nationwide sold the Golden Chair recliners from January 1987 to December 1995. Furniture stores nationwide sold the Allen Manufacturing recliners from January 1988 to December 1995.

Product

Recliner Chairs

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Golden Chair of Houlka, Miss., and Allen Manufacturing of Benton, Tenn., are announcing the recall of about 142,000 recliner chairs because small children can get trapped or strangle in the recliners. Children can get their heads caught and possibly strangle in recliners if the space between the chair's seat and foot rest measures more than five inches wide. Since 1990, two children have died and two others nearly strangled when children leaned forward on the leg rest while their heads were caught between the chair seat and leg rest. Golden Chair Inc. is recalling about 100,000 recliners and Allen Manufacturing is recalling about 42,000 recliners that have a space between the chair seat and leg rest measuring up to 6 inches wide. CPSC is not aware of injuries involving recliners made by Golden Chair or Allen Manufacturing. These companies are conducting this recall to prevent injuries. The furniture industry's guidelines for recliners, established in 1988 by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, specify that openings between the upholstered seat and leg rest should measure five inches or less. The recliners involved in this recall do not meet these guidelines. Golden Chair recliners, which are upholstered in beige, blue, brown, or mauve fabric, can be identified by a label stapled underneath the foot rest. The label identifies the manufacturers as "Golden Chair, Inc." or "Golden Furniture Manufacturing Co." The license number "Lic. No. NY 58770" may also appear on the label. In addition, a serial number is attached to the wood rail visible under the chair when it is in the fully reclined position. Allen Manufacturing recliners, which are upholstered in fabric and vinyl in an assortment of colors, can be identified by a label, #VA-9300Tn, attached to the bottom of the foot rest. Furniture stores nationwide sold the Golden Chair recliners from January 1987 to December 1995. Furniture stores nationwide sold the Allen Manufacturing recliners from January 1988 to December 1995. Consumers who own Golden Chair or Allen Manufacturing recliners should measure the space between the seat and foot rest. If the opening is greater than five inches, consumers should stop using the chair immediately. Consumers who own Golden Chair recliners should call the company at (800) 965-1277. Consumers who own Allen Manufacturing recliners should call the company at (888) 338-0550. The companies will send a free crossbar to attach between the seat and foot rest, which is designed to reduce the space and prevent injuries to children. Prior to calling the manufacturer, consumers should have measurements of both the width of the opening between the chair seat and foot rest, and the distance between the mechanism that fastens the foot rest to the chair. Consumers should call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 to report other recliners not part of this recall with spaces greater than 5 inches between the chair seat and foot rest fully extended. Any recliner with large spacing presents an entrapment hazard to children.

Hazard

Children can get their heads caught and possibly strangle in recliners if the space between the chair's seat and foot rest measures more than five inches wide.

Incidents & Injuries

Since 1990, two children have died and two others nearly strangled when children leaned forward on the leg rest while their heads were caught between the chair seat and leg rest.

Remedy Instructions

The companies will send a free crossbar to attach between the seat and foot rest, which is designed to reduce the space and prevent injuries to children.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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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 (Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.

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