Runtal Sundance Towel Radiator

CPSC Recall #05-503 — October 4, 2004

Recall Summary

Recall Number05-503
Recall DateOctober 4, 2004
Remedy TypeReplace
Units Affected200
ManufacturerRuntal North America, Inc., Ward Hill, Mass.
ImporterRuntal North America, Inc., Ward Hill, Mass.
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Runtal North America
Inc. at the website www.runtalsundance.com between November 2003 and July 2004
and through the Web sites of Bed
Bath and Beyond and eQwip on a limited basis between November 2003 and January 2004 for about $300.

Product

Runtal Sundance Towel Radiator

Description

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Runtal North America, Inc., Ward Hill, Mass. is voluntarily recalling Runtal Sundance Towel Radiators. The towel rack may overheat and rupture when overloaded with towels, releasing heated fluid which could result in a burn injury.Name of Product: Runtal Sundance Towel RadiatorUnits: 200Manufacturer/Importer: Runtal North America, Inc., Ward Hill, Mass.Hazard: The towel rack may overheat and rupture when overloaded with towels, releasing heated fluid which could result in a burn injury.Incidents/Injuries: Runtal has received one report of a Sundance Towel Radiator rupturing, but no injuries have been reported.Description: The Sundance Towel Radiator is a wall-mounted towel warmer and decorative heater. The product warms towels and provides radiant heat through a thermal element inside the fluid-filled tubular rack.Sold at: Runtal North America, Inc. at the website www.runtalsundance.com between November 2003 and July 2004, and through the Web sites of Bed, Bath and Beyond and eQwip on a limited basis between November 2003 and January 2004 for about $300.Manufactured In: U.S.A.Remedy: Free replacement. Consumers should immediately stop using the heater function with towels loaded on the top rungs. Runtal is replacing all current Sundance units with new units incorporating an improved temperature control and monitoring system at no cost to the consumer. Sundance is contacting every customer who purchased this product by letter and by phone to arrange for pick-up and replacement.Consumer Contact: Contact Runtal North America, Inc. at 800-526-2621 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. For more information, go to www.runtalsundance.com.

Hazard

The towel rack may overheat and rupture when overloaded with towels, releasing heated fluid which could result in a burn injury.

Incidents & Injuries

Runtal has received one report of a Sundance Towel Radiator rupturing, but no injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Free replacement. Consumers should immediately stop using the heater function with towels loaded on the top rungs. Runtal is replacing all current Sundance units with new units incorporating an improved temperature control and monitoring system at no cost to the consumer. Sundance is contacting every customer who purchased this product by letter and by phone to arrange for pick-up and replacement.

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.