Categorized | Business, Recalls

Over 40 million Kidde fire extinguishers recalled, one death due to defective unit

Name of product:
Kidde fire extinguishers with plastic handles

Hazard:
The fire extinguishers can become clogged or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard.

Remedy:
Replace

Recall date:
November 2, 2017

Recall number:
18-022

Description:
This recall involves two styles of Kidde fire extinguishers: plastic handle fire extinguishers and push-button Pindicator fire extinguishers.

Plastic handle fire extinguishers: The recall involves 134 models of Kidde fire extinguishers manufactured between January 1, 1973 and August 15, 2017, including models that were previously recalled in March 2009 and February 2015. The extinguishers were sold in red, white and silver, and are either ABC- or BC-rated. The model number is printed on the fire extinguisher label. For units produced in 2007 and beyond, the date of manufacture is a 10-digit date code printed on the side of the cylinder, near the bottom. Digits five through nine represent the day and year of manufacture in DDDYY format. Date codes for recalled models manufactured from January 2, 2012 through August 15, 2017 are 00212 through 22717. For units produced before 2007, a date code is not printed on the fire extinguisher.

Plastic-handle models produced between January 1, 1973 and October 25, 2015
2A40BC Gillette TPS-1 1A10BC Sams SM 340
6 RAP Home 10BC Sanford 1A10BC
6 TAP Home 1A10BC Sanford 2A40BC
Ademco 720 1A10BC Home 2A40BC Sanford TPS-1 1A10BC
Ademco 722 2A40BC Home H-10 10BC Sanford TPS-1 2A40BC
ADT 3A40BC Home H-110 1A10BC Sears 2RPS   5BC
All Purpose 2A40BC Home H-240 2A-40BC Sears 58033 10BC
Bicentenial RPS-2  10BC Honeywell 1A10BC Sears 58043 1A10BC
Bicentenial TPS-2  1A-10BC Honeywell TPS-1 1A10BC Sears 5805  2A40BC
Costco 340 J.L. 2A40BC Sears 958034
FA 340HD J.L. TPS-1 2A40BC Sears 958044
FA240HD Kadet 2RPS-1   5BC Sears 958054
FC 340Z Kidde 10BC Sears 958075
FC Super Kidde 1A10BC Sears RPS-1 10BC
FC210R-C8S Kidde 2A40BC Sears TPS-1  1A10BC
Fire Away 10BC Spanish Kidde 40BC Sears TPS-1 2A40BC
Fire Away 1A10BC Spanish Kidde RPS-1 10BC Traveler 10BC
Fire Away 2A40BC Spanish Kidde RPS-1 40BC Traveler 1A10BC
Fireaway 10 (F-10) Kidde TPS-1 1A10BC Traveler 2A40BC
Fireaway 10BC Kidde TPS-1 2A40BC Traveler T-10 10BC
Fireaway 110 (F-110) KX 2-1/2 TCZ Traveler T-110 1A10BC
Fireaway 1A10BC Mariner 10BC Traveler T-240 2A40BC
Fireaway 240 (F-240) Mariner 1A10BC Volunteer 1A10BC
Fireaway 2A40BC Mariner 2A40BC Volunteer TPS-V 1A10BC
Force 9 2A40BC Mariner M-10  10BC XL 2.5 TCZ
FS 340Z Mariner M-110 1A10BC XL 2.5 TCZ-3
Fuller 420  1A10BC Mariner M-240 2A40BC XL 2.5 TCZ-4
Fuller Brush 420 1A10BC Master Protection 2A40BC XL 2.75 RZ
FX210 Montgomery Ward 10BC XL 2.75 RZ-3
FX210R Montgomery Ward 1A-10BC XL 2-3/4 RZ
FX210W Montgomery Ward 8627 1A10BC XL 340HD
FX340GW Montgomery Ward 8637  10BC XL 4 TXZ
FX340GW-2 Quell 10BC XL 5 PK
FX340H Quell 1A10BC XL 5 TCZ
FX340SC Quell RPS-1 10BC XL 5 TCZ-1
FX340SC-2 Quell TPS-1 1A10BC XL5 MR
Gillette 1A10BC Quell ZRPS  5BC XL 6 RZ

 

Plastic-handle models with date codes between January 2, 2012 and August 15, 2017
AUTO FX5 II-1 FC5 M10G
FA10G FS10 M10GM
FA10T FS110 M110G
FA110G FS5 M110GM
FA5-1 FX10K M5G
FA5G FX5 II M5GM
FC10 H110G RESSP
FC110 H5G

Push-button Pindicator fire extinguishers: The recall involves eight models of Kidde Pindicator fire extinguishers manufactured between August 11, 1995 and September 22, 2017. The no-gauge push-button extinguishers were sold in red and white, and with a red or black nozzle. These models were sold primarily for kitchen and personal watercraft applications.

Push Button Pindicator Models manufactured between  August 11, 1995 and September 22, 2017
KK2 M5PM
100D AUTO 5FX
210D AUTO 5FX-1
M5P FF 210D-1

Remedy:
Consumers should immediately contact Kidde to request a free replacement fire extinguisher and for instructions on returning the recalled unit, as it may not work properly in a fire emergency.

Note: This recall includes fire extinguisher models that were previously recalled in March 2009 and February 2015. Kidde branded fire extinguishers included in these previously announced recalls should also be replaced. All affected model numbers are listed in the charts above.

Recall information for fire extinguishers used in RVs and motor vehicles can be found on NHTSA’s website.

Incidents/Injuries:
The firm is aware of a 2014 death involving a car fire following a crash. Emergency responders could not get the recalled Kidde fire extinguishers to work. There have been approximately 391 reports of failed or limited activation or nozzle detachment, including the fatality, approximately 16 injuries, including smoke inhalation and minor burns, and approximately 91 reports of property damage.

Sold At:
Menards, Montgomery Ward, Sears, The Home Depot, Walmart and other department, home and hardware stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com, ShopKidde.com and other online retailers for between $12 and $50 and for about $200 for model XL 5MR. These fire extinguishers were also sold with commercial trucks, recreational vehicles, personal watercraft and boats.

Importer(s):
Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Company Inc., of Mebane, N.C.

Manufactured In:
United States and Mexico

Units:
About 37.8 million (in addition, 2.7 million in Canada)

Report an Incident Involving this Product

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to help ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC’s free e-mail newsletters.

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