Red Devil Gas Grills
CPSC Recall #02-541 — May 16, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-541 |
| Recall Date | May 16, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Label, New Instructions |
| Units Affected | About 11,100 |
Where It Was Sold
| QVC sold the grills between May 1999 and December 2000. The grills were sold to consumers for approximately $150. |
Product
Red Devil Gas Grills
Description
PRODUCT: Red Devil Gas Grills - QVC, Inc., of West Chester, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 11,100 Red Devil Gas Grills for the attachment of warning labels and the provision of revised operating instructions. These red metal gas grills have a tripod stand. They have a logo on the label of the lid and grill base showing a devil cooking at a grill with the writing, "Red Devil." The lid also reads "The Portable Outdoor Kitchen." Components sold with the grill include a heat plate, an oversized skillet with handles, a table-safe serving trivet, and carrying totes. QVC sold the grills between May 1999 and December 2000. The grills were sold to consumers for approximately $150.PROBLEM: The product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an air intake tube, instead of at the burner. When the grill is lit at the air intake tube, it will appear to function normally, though gas inside the air intake tube will ignite. The tube can reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and present a burn hazard to consumers. In earlier, but similar products sold by a different firm, the heat produced by lighting the grill at the air intake tube has damaged the plastic support piece, and caused the grill to fall to the ground. Flames from the lit grill can burn nearby consumers when it collapses and ignite surrounding combustibles.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: CPSC has received 44 reports of consumers suffering burns to legs, hands and fingers, including reports of some third degree burns. There have been no incidents reported by QVC customers.WHAT TO DO: Consumers who purchased one of these grills from QVC should stop using them immediately and call QVC Customer Service at (800) 334- 9324, between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.qvc.com. Consumers who purchased the product after August 1998 will receive, upon notifying QVC, revised operating instructions and a warning label to be put on the locking mechanism next to the air hole, warning users not to light the grill at the air hole opening in the venturi tube.
Hazard
The product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an air intake tube, instead of at the burner. When the grill is lit at the air intake tube, it will appear to function normally, though gas inside the air intake tube will ignite. The tube can reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and present a burn hazard to consumers. In earlier, but similar products sold by a different firm, the heat produced by lighting the grill at the air intake tube has damaged the plastic support piece, and caused the grill to fall to the ground. Flames from the lit grill can burn nearby consumers when it collapses and ignite surrounding combustibles.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC has received 44 reports of consumers suffering burns to legs, hands and fingers, including reports of some third degree burns. There have been no incidents reported by QVC customers.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who purchased one of these grills from QVC should stop using them immediately and call QVC Customer Service at (800) 334- 9324, between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.qvc.com. Consumers who purchased the product after August 1998 will receive, upon notifying QVC, revised operating instructions and a warning label to be put on the locking mechanism next to the air hole, warning users not to light the grill at the air hole opening in the venturi tube.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Label, New Instructions 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 (Label, New Instructions) 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.