Note: Two of the participating firms are out of business; new phone number for one firm.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Ken Giles |
| Originally issued May 6, 1997, Last Revised January 5, 2007 |
(301) 504-7052 |
| Release # 97-118 |
| |
CPSC Announces Recall of Additional Go-Karts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), six go-kart manufacturers are recalling for repair over 122,000 go-karts with exposed rear axles. Riders can be seriously injured or killed if their long hair or clothing becomes entangled in the rotating rear axle.
Since July 1996, CPSC and two manufacturers have announced recalls for repair of about 305,000 go-karts with this entanglement hazard. The manufacturers participating in this recall have identified other go-karts with this same hazard.
Since July 1996, CPSC has received reports of one child who died and two children who were seriously injured in go-karts. The go-karts involved in these incidents were recalled by another manufacturer last year. CPSC has also received one report in which an adult alleges that she was seriously injured when her hair became entangled in the rotating rear axle of a T&D Metal Products go-kart.
The one- and two-seat go-karts are powered by gasoline engines. All go-karts with an exposed rear axle are involved in this repair program. To determine whether the rear axle is exposed, consumers should stand behind the go-kart, with the engine off, and push the go-kart by hand. If consumers can see the axle connecting the two rear wheels rotating, the go-kart is subject to this repair program.
The manufacturers listed below are participating in this repair program to improve the safety of these go-karts.
| Manufacturer | Brand Labels | Model and Serial Numbers | Quantity |
| |
|
|
|
Avenger Inc.
400 Horseshoe Lake Rd.
Monroe, LA 71203
Firm out of business |
Yellow Jacket |
Model Number: SST |
83 |
| |
|
|
|
Bob's Kart Shop
Route 2, Box 30
Sheridan, IL 60551
Collect (815) 496-2820 |
Grasshoper,
T.C. Go-Fur,
and Ground Hawg |
|
7,000 |
| |
|
|
|
Kartco Inc.
P.O. Box 110
Sebastopol, MS 39359
(800) 621-2789 |
Kartco and Roadboss |
Model Number: 445 |
750 |
| |
|
|
|
Ken-Bar Mfg.
P.O. Box 569
Cornelia, GA
(800) 241-3557 |
Streaker, Sand Dog,
Salute to America,
Scorpion, and Mud
Hog |
Model Numbers:
DD7, DD8, D680, D710,
D720, D780, D790, D810,
D840, S465, SC7, STA8,
STA9, and SD11
Serial Numbers:
001 to 100000 |
75,000 |
| |
|
|
|
Minat Inc.
115 East Front St.
Annawan, IL 61234
Firm out of business |
U.S. Eagle Series |
Model Numbers:
Eagle I and Eagle II |
200 |
| |
|
|
|
T&D Metal Products
P.O. Box 73
Watseka, IL 60970
(888) 527-7787 |
Klipper Karts,
ProKart, Pathwinder,
Kool Kart Campout,
and Bird Mfg |
Serial Numbers:
EM001 to EM029
and
0030 to 39126 |
39,000 |
Outdoor power equipment, specialty, lawn and garden, hardware, furniture, motorcycle, and department stores, as well as Harbor Freight mail order catalogue, sold these go-karts nationwide from August 1976 through March 1997 for about $500 to $2,500.
Consumers should stop using these go-karts immediately and contact the appropriate manufacturer to receive a free axle guard kit with instructions for easy installation. If the manufacturer is out of business or if consumers are not sure of the go-kart manufacturer or have questions about this recall, they should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.
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.