Steam Buggy™ Deluxe Steamers

CPSC Recall #02-529 — March 28, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-529
Recall DateMarch 28, 2002
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 3,100

Where It Was Sold

HSN LP (Home Shopping Network) sold the Steam Buggy Deluxe nationwide from December 2001 through January 2002 for about $129.

Product

Steam Buggy™ Deluxe Steamers

Description

PRODUCT: Steam Cleaners - Tristar Products Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 3,100 Steam Buggy™ Deluxe Steamers. The recalled steam cleaner is blue plastic and measures about 12 inches long and 8 inches high. It has a 5.5-foot black steam hose connected to the water reservoir and comes with various cleaning attachments. HSN LP (Home Shopping Network) sold the Steam Buggy Deluxe nationwide from December 2001 through January 2002 for about $129.PROBLEM: The internal hose connected to the trigger in the handle can detach, allowing hot water and/or steam to escape, posing a burn hazard to consumers.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: CPSC and Tristar Products have received reports of 305 incidents, 214 of which involved consumers receiving burns to hands, arms, feet, and body.WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using the Steam Buggy Deluxe immediately and contact Tristar customer service at (888) 339-4203 for information on how to ship the recalled product and get a replacement or refund. Tristar will pay for all shipping charges to return the product. For additional information visit the HSN LP's website at www.hsn.com. Consumers were sent direct mail notification of this recall.

Hazard

The internal hose connected to the trigger in the handle can detach, allowing hot water and/or steam to escape, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Tristar Products have received reports of 305 incidents, 214 of which involved consumers receiving burns to hands, arms, feet, and body.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the Steam Buggy Deluxe immediately and contact Tristar customer service at (888) 339-4203 for information on how to ship the recalled product and get a replacement or refund. Tristar will pay for all shipping charges to return the product. Consumers were sent direct mail notification of this recall.

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.