Zenith large-screen, analog projection televisions
CPSC Recall #03-078 — January 29, 2003
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 03-078 |
| Recall Date | January 29, 2003 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 80,000 |
| Manufactured In | Mexico |
Where It Was Sold
| Major appliance and department stores nationwide sold these televisions from about April 1995 through April 1999 for between $1 |
| 200 and $2 |
| 800. |
Product
Zenith large-screen, analog projection televisions
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Zenith Electronics Corp., of Lincolnshire, Ill., is voluntarily recalling to repair about 80,000 large-screen, analog projection televisions manufactured between 1995 and 1998. This recall is an expansion of a 1998 recall program involving 111,000 projection television sets. A tear in a gasket can cause coolant fluid to leak from the picture tube assembly. This can cause smoking, charring, and electrical arcing inside of the television, posing a fire hazard to consumers.Since 1998, Zenith has received 45 reports of incidents involving coolant leakage, causing smoking or charring with the televisions, including four cases where minor property damage occurred outside of the unit. No injuries have been reported.The projection televisions recalled in this expansion and the earlier program have 46-60 inch screens and were manufactured from April 1995 through July 1997, and August 1998 through November 1998. The date of manufacture can be found on the white label on the back of the set. These televisions were manufactured in Mexico. Projection televisions manufactured after 1998 are not included in this recall.Major appliance and department stores nationwide sold these televisions from about April 1995 through April 1999 for between $1,200 and $2,800.Consumers who have one of these televisions should pick up the phone immediately and contact Zenith at (800) 777-5195 anytime to arrange for a free inspection and repair. Consumers also can visit the company's dedicated website at www.projorecall.com.In cooperation with CPSC, Zenith conducted a recall beginning in 1998, in which they notified owners of the television sets covered by the program, which resulted in 61,000 units being repaired. This notice is intended for consumers who did not participate in the first program or have one of the 80,000 televisions being added to the 1998 program.
Hazard
A tear in a gasket can cause coolant fluid to leak from the picture tube assembly. This can cause smoking, charring, and electrical arcing inside of the television, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Since 1998, Zenith has received 45 reports of incidents involving coolant leakage, causing smoking or charring with the televisions, including four cases where minor property damage occurred outside of the unit. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who have one of these televisions should pick up the phone immediately and contact Zenith at (800) 777-5195 anytime to arrange for a free inspection and repair.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, 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 (Inspect, 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.