Wooden Toy Cars
CPSC Recall #97-105 — April 16, 1997
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97-105 |
| Recall Date | April 16, 1997 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 13,200 |
Where It Was Sold
| The toys were sold nationwide by Benton-Kirby and Walter Drake & Sons mail order catalogues. The toys were also sold by Boardman's (Small Wonders |
| Something Special |
| Small Delights) |
| Odd-Job Trading stores |
| J.D. Yeatts Imports |
| and Burton Distributors. The toys were sold from 1994 through March 1997 for about $5. |
Product
Wooden Toy Cars
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Etna Products Inc. of New York, N.Y., is recalling about 13,200 wooden toy cars. The glue holding the toy together deteriorates causing the hub caps, headlights, and blocks to separate. Young children could choke on the headlights and blocks or inhale the hub caps into their lungs, which could lead to death.CPSC and Etna Products are not aware of any injuries involving these toys. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.The wooden toy car is painted red, yellow, green, and blue. The sides of the car hold 26 wooden blocks painted with letters of the alphabet and pictures appropriate for each letter and two heart-shaped red blocks. The car also comes with a 12-inch white pull cord. The toy is packaged in a cardboard box labeled in part, "Solid Wood Hand-Painted Old Time Learning Car...28 Blocks - One Side Displays Letter, Other Side Displays Picture With Name." There is a picture of the toy car on the box.The toys were sold nationwide by Benton-Kirby and Walter Drake & Sons mail order catalogues. The toys were also sold by Boardman's (Small Wonders, Something Special, Small Delights), Odd-Job Trading stores, J.D. Yeatts Imports, and Burton Distributors. The toys were sold from 1994 through March 1997 for about $5.Consumers should take the recalled toys away from children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information about this recall or for questions concerning mail order purchases, consumers should call Etna at (800) 841-1007.
Hazard
The glue holding the toy together deteriorates causing the hub caps, headlights, and blocks to separate. Young children could choke on the headlights and blocks or inhale the hub caps into their lungs, which could lead to death.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Etna Products are not aware of any injuries involving these toys. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take the recalled toys away from children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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) 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.