"Thermos" and "Structo" brand gas barbecue grills
CPSC Recall #90-043 — March 6, 1990
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 90-043 |
| Recall Date | March 6, 1990 |
| Remedy Type | New Instructions, Repair |
| Units Affected | 87,606 |
Product
"Thermos" and "Structo" brand gas barbecue grills
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Thermos Company, Freeport, Illinois, is voluntarily replacing a component part in some of its "Thermos" and "Structo" brand gas barbecue grills sold since April 1989. The part is a hose, valve and regulator assembly which might leak gas and possibly result in fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is not aware of any fires caused by defective assemblies placed in "Thermos" or "Structo" grills. Consumers who have purchased Thermos or Structo gas grills since April 1989 should inspect their grills before cooking again. Check for the name of the manufacturer of the hose, valve and regulator assembly which is stamped on the round metal regulator which connects to the liquid propane gas tank. If the name "Taiwan Pao-An Ind. Co." is not stamped on the regulator, no further action is required and the grill may be used for normal operation. If the name stamped on the regulator is "Taiwan Pao- An Ind. Co.," look for the serial number located on either end of the bottom base or inside the side panel of the grill. If the serial number is between 721791 and 886390, the hose, valve and regulator assembly may be defective and the grill should not be used until the assembly is carefully examined. If the serial number is not between these numbers, the grill may be used. Consumers with Thermos or Structo grills bearing serial numbers within the suspect range should call Char-broil, which bought the Thermos grill business, toll-free at 1-800-241-7548, to obtain instructions for determining whether the hose, valve and regulator assembly on their grill is in fact defective and, if it is, instructions on how to retrofit their grill with a new assembly from Thermos. According to Thermos, 87,606 of approximately 675,000 grills shipped since April 1989 contain a hose, valve and regulator that may be defective. Thermos statistical studies indicate that one percent of those 87,606 (877) parts are defective.
Hazard
The part is a hose, valve and regulator assembly which might leak gas and possibly result in fire.
Incidents & Injuries
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is not aware of any fires caused by defective assemblies placed in "Thermos" or "Structo" grills.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers with Thermos or Structo grills bearing serial numbers within the suspect range should call Char-broil, which bought the Thermos grill business, toll-free at 1-800-241-7548, to obtain instructions for determining whether the hose, valve and regulator assembly on their grill is in fact defective and, if it is, instructions on how to retrofit their grill with a new assembly from Thermos.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, Repair 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 (New Instructions, Repair) 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.