Sling Garden Chairs

CPSC Recall #98-022 - November 2, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-022
Recall DateNovember 2, 1997
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 205,000

Where It Was Sold

Kmart stores nationwide sold these chairs from February 1997 through September 1997 for about $13.

Product

Sling Garden Chairs

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Kmart Corp. of Troy, Mich., is recalling about 205,000 Sling Garden Chairs. The chairs can unexpectedly collapse and injure consumers.Kmart has received 10 reports of these chairs collapsing. Six reports involve fingertip amputations and crushed fingers when consumers' fingers were caught in the folding arm of the chairs as they collapsed. Two reports involve reports of back pain when consumers fell to the floor.The chairs consist of a white metal frame with a seat made of a striped vinyl fabric. The striped seat is available in the following colors: royal blue/white, navy blue/white, orange/lime, lime/orange and hunter green/white. The arm rests of these chairs are colored to match the seats. The chairs measure about 34 inches high and 22 inches wide. A white label on the back of the chairs reads, "MADE IN CHINA." The chairs had a cardboard hang tag labeled, "SLING GARDEN CHAIR...KMART"Kmart stores nationwide sold these chairs from February 1997 through September 1997 for about $13.Consumers should stop using these chairs immediately and return them to the nearest Kmart store for a refund. For more information about this recall, consumers should contact Kmart at (800) 63KMART or access Kmart's web site at www.kmart.com.

Hazard

The chairs can unexpectedly collapse and injure consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Kmart has received 10 reports of these chairs collapsing. Six reports involve fingertip amputations and crushed fingers when consumers' fingers were caught in the folding arm of the chairs as they collapsed. Two reports involve reports of back pain when consumers fell to the floor.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these chairs immediately and return them to the nearest Kmart store for a refund.

What Should You Do?

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