Salsa Cycles Recalls Handlebar Stems Due to Fall Hazard

CPSC Recall #11-083 — January 3, 2011

Recall Summary

Recall Number11-083
Recall DateJanuary 3, 2011
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units Affected"About 6,500 units"
Importer"Salsa Cycles, a subsidiary of Quality Bicycle Products, of Bloomington, Minn."
Manufactured InTaiwan

Where It Was Sold

Bicycle retailers and websites from April 2010 through October 2010 for about $65.

Description

The handlebar stems can crack or break.

Hazard

"The handlebar stems can crack or break, posing a fall hazard to the rider."

Incidents & Injuries

Salsa Cycles has received one report of a handlebar stem breaking that resulted in minor injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop riding bicycles containing these handlebar stems immediately and contact an authorized Salsa Bicycles dealer for a free inspection and a handlebar stem replacement or a full refund.

What Should You Do?

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