November 16, 2011
Alert #12-705 |
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Note: This recall has been reannounced
Columbia Sportswear Recalls Batteries Sold With Jackets Due To Fire Hazard
The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Omni-Heat™ Lithium-Polymer Rechargeable Batteries
Units: About 220 (two battery packs sold with each jacket totaling 440 batteries)
Importer: Columbia Sportswear Company, of Portland, Ore.
Hazard: The batteries have a cell defect which can cause overheating, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a battery overheating that was discovered at its distribution facility in France. No incidents or injuries have been reported in the United States.
Description: This recall involves battery packs that power heating systems in jackets. Two battery packs were included with the following Omni-Heat™ Electric jacket styles: Omni-Heat™ Electric Wader Widgeon, Omni-Heat™ Electric Big Game and Omni-Heat™ Gale Warning Interchange. The black battery packs are 3.25 inches long by 2.3 inches wide by 0.7 inches deep and marked with "Columbia" on the top and "OMNI-HEAT™" on the bottom of the pack. "Part: 054978-001" is printed on the side label.
Sold by: Columbia online retail for $79. The recalled battery packs were included with the jackets sold by Columbia online retail and outdoor and sporting goods dealers nationwide from July 2011 to September 2011 from $900 to $1200.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the battery pack from the jacket and contact the firm for instructions to return both battery packs to Columbia for free replacements.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Columbia Sportswear Company between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT at (800) 622-6953, email Columbia@custhelp.com, or visit the firm's website at www.Columbia.com/Recall
Firm Media Contact: (503) 985-4584
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.