Toy Police Car
CPSC Recall #97-124 — May 18, 1997
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97-124 |
| Recall Date | May 18, 1997 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
Where It Was Sold
| Major toy stores and mass merchandise outlets nationwide have sold the vehicle set since February 1997 for about $8. |
Product
Toy Police Car
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fisher-Price Inc. of East Aurora, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 17,000 toy police cars sold since February 1997. The back of some cars could crack and break apart, presenting a potential choking hazard to young children.CPSC and Fisher-Price Inc. are not aware of any injuries involving these toy cars. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.The police car is part of the Little People Roadside RescueTM vehicle set. The set includes one white and blue police car; one yellow tow truck; one red passenger car; three figures including an auto mechanic, a police officer, and a driver; two orange traffic cones; one red stop sign; and one yellow yield sign. The police car is made of plastic. The upper part of the car is white and the lower part of the car is blue. There are blue star cutouts on both sides of the car. The car has black wheels. The police car is the only toy in the set involved in the recall.The vehicle set is packaged in a cardboard box labeled in part, "Fisher-Price Little People Roadside RescueTM...Ages 1 1/2 - 5 yrs...72394." The vehicle set is visible through a plastic window on the box.Major toy stores and mass merchandise outlets nationwide have sold the vehicle set since February 1997 for about $8.Consumers who have purchased the vehicle set since February 1997 should take the police car away from young children immediately and call Fisher-Price toll-free at 800-233-4004. Consumers will receive a replacement vehicle free of charge.
Hazard
The back of some cars could crack and break apart, presenting a potential choking hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Fisher-Price Inc. are not aware of any injuries involving these toy cars. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who have purchased the vehicle set since February 1997 should take the police car away from young children immediately and call Fisher-Price toll-free at 800-233-4004. Consumers will receive a replacement vehicle free of charge.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Replace) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.