Steam Buggy Deluxe
CPSC Recall #04-539 — March 8, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-539 |
| Recall Date | March 8, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Refund, Replace |
| Units Affected | 5,000 |
| Manufacturer | Tristar Products Inc., of Fairfield, N.J. |
| Manufactured In | Taiwan |
Where It Was Sold
| HSN LLP (Home Shopping Network) from June 2002 through September 2002 for about $129. Also |
| shipped as replacement units to consumers in the earlier recall between April and September 2002. |
Product
Steam Buggy Deluxe
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tristar Products Inc., of Fairfield, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 Steam Buggy Deluxe steam cleaners. Hot water and steam can escape from the steam cleaner's handle and inner hose, posing a burn hazard to consumers.Name of Product: Steam Buggy DeluxeUnits: 5,000Manufacturer: Tristar Products Inc., of Fairfield, N.J.Hazard: Hot water and steam can escape from the steam cleaner's handle and inner hose, posing a burn hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received about 20 reports of hot water and steam escaping from the steam cleaner, including eight reports of scald injuries to the hands and arms.Description: The recalled steam cleaner is blue plastic and measures about 12-inches long and 8-inches high. The 5.5-foot steam hose connects to the water reservoir and is sold with various cleaning attachments. Prior Recall: In March 2002, CPSC and Tristar recalled the Steam Buggy Deluxe to repair the internal hose connection. This recall only includes the revised design steam buggys, and not the units in the earlier recall.Sold by: HSN LLP (Home Shopping Network) from June 2002 through September 2002 for about $129. Also, shipped as replacement units to consumers in the earlier recall between April and September 2002.Manufactured In: TaiwanRemedy: Consumers who experience a burst hose should stop using the steam cleaner and contact Tristar for information on how to return the product for a replacement or refund.Consumer Contact: Call Tristar customer service at (973) 287-5100 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Consumers can also e-mail the firm at [email protected].
Hazard
Hot water and steam can escape from the steam cleaner's handle and inner hose, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received about 20 reports of hot water and steam escaping from the steam cleaner, including eight reports of scald injuries to the hands and arms.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who experience a burst hose should stop using the steam cleaner and contact Tristar for information on how to return the product for a replacement or 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.
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.