| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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| Originally issued December 2, 1987, Revised October 22, 2004 |
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| Release # 87-078 |
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Note: Firm out of business. Consumers should discard or destroy the products to prevent injuries.
Hedstrom Offers Fuse Protector Kit For "Probe VI" Battery-Powered Riding Toy
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hedstrom Corporation, Bedford, Pennsylvania, voluntarily repaired the wiring harness in approximately 30,000 Hedstrom Probe VI battery-powered riding toys manufactured prior to June 1985 without fuses. The Commission and Hedstrom are aware of eight reported incidents in which these vehicles have caught fire. One of these incidents resulted in a serious fire in a mobile home. Fire can occur either while the toy is being stored or while it is being ridden by a child.
The Probe VI is a 6-wheeled, 2-speed toy all terrain vehicle with two motors powered by two 6-volt gel-type lead acid batteries. A separate charger is supplied with each vehicle. The manufacturer recommends this toy for children from 3 to 7 years of age. Probe VI toys without fuses were manufactured from 1983 to June 1985 and distributed nationally.
The affected units can be identified by the model identification label located on the front underside of the plastic body (see attached diagram). Hedstrom began using wiring harnesses with fuses at the batteries in June 1985. Units with fuses are not affected. Models affected are: 67-3890, 67-3891, 67-3892, 67-38921, 67-3893 and 67-38931 with dates of manufacture prior to June 1985, as shown on the model identification label.
Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately and discard or destroy the product. The firm is out of business and the repair program is no longer available.
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.