FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2000
Release # 00-161 |
Williams-Sonoma Recall Hotline: (888) 779-5173
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
|
CPSC, Williams-Sonoma Inc. Announce Recall of Portable Gas Grills
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 950 portable propane gas grills, called the Suitcase Grill. The grills can be difficult or impossible to turn off and the temperature control can malfunction. This poses fire, burn, and explosion hazards to consumers.
Williams-Sonoma and CPSC have received two reports of consumers being unable to shut off the propane gas flow. No injuries have been reported.
The grill is made of rust-resistant stainless steel and folds like a suitcase, with built-in handles. It measures 23 inches long by 8 inches high. The grill has a 20,000-BTU propane-gas burner with adjustable temperature controls. The control is a black round knob with white writing that reads in part "HIGH, LOW, MED, OFF". A label on the grill reads "Model #15-3597291, READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LIGHTING, and MADE IN CHINA."
Williams-Sonoma stores, in addition to the Williams-Sonoma catalog and web site, sold the grills nationwide from March 2000 through July 2000 for about $200.
Consumers should stop using the grills immediately, and return them to Williams-Sonoma for a full refund and a $50 gift certificate. The firm will reimburse consumers for shipping, and will retrieve the grills from consumers' homes, upon request. For additional information, contact Williams-Sonoma toll free at (888) 779-5173 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Saturday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to 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 30 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.