Star Cruiser® and Rocket Rider® swings on backyard gym sets

CPSC Recall #01-165 — June 4, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number01-165
Recall DateJune 4, 2001
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units AffectedAbout 190,000

Where It Was Sold

Department
toy
discount
lumber
and hardware stores nationwide
including Toys "R" Us
Wal-Mart and Kmart
sold the gyms from September 2000 through April 2001 for $150 to $400.

Product

Star Cruiser® and Rocket Rider® swings on backyard gym sets

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hedstrom® Corp., of Bedford, Pa., and their subsidiary Backyard Products, of Collingwood, Ontario, recalled to repair about 190,000 Star Cruiser® and Rocket Rider® swings on backyard gym sets. Screws that hold the swing together can fall out, causing the seat to fall to the ground, posing an injury risk to children.Hedstrom had received 291 reports of seats separating, including 19 children who suffered lacerations, scrapes and bruises.The recalled swings, which come with separate pieces for the seat and handle bars/leg rest, were sold with Hedstrom metal and wood gym sets, wood kits, and as accessories. The Star Cruiser has a one-piece seat, with a white plastic circle and the words, "Star Cruiser" and "Hedstrom" on the front of the handle bars/leg rest. A mesh backing, called a Safe-T TM Backrest, can be connected to back of the seat. The Rocket Rider is a 'see-saw' swing, with a white seat on which two children can sit back-to-back. The words, "Rocket Rider" are printed on the front of each of the two handle bars/leg rests.Department, toy, discount, lumber, and hardware stores nationwide, including Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart and Kmart, sold the gyms from September 2000 through April 2001 for $150 to $400.Consumers should stop using the swings immediately, detach them from the gym set, and discard or destroy them. The firm is out of business and a repair is no longer available.

Hazard

Screws that hold the swing together can fall out, causing the seat to fall to the ground, posing an injury risk to children.

Incidents & Injuries

Hedstrom had received 291 reports of seats separating, including 19 children who suffered lacerations, scrapes and bruises.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the swings immediately, detach them from the gym set, and discard or destroy them. The firm is out of business and a repair is no longer available.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.