CPSC, W.C. Wood Co. Announce Recall Of 345,775 Freezers

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), W.C. Wood Company Inc. of Ottawa, Ohio, is announcing a voluntary recall to repair 345,775 chest freezers. The freezer's lock mechanism can be forced open without a key. Therefore, if a child opens the freezer and climbs or falls in, the lock could re-latch, trapping the child inside.

The freezers were sold from January 1991 through February 1996 in five different sizes: 7, 10, 12, 15, and 22 cubic feet. All of the freezers are white or almond. The freezers were sold nationwide for retail prices ranging from $199 to $549 through the following companies and brand names:

W.C. Wood Company distributed as Woods Brand and Quickfrez Brand; Danby Products Inc. of Findlay, Ohio, distributed as Danby Brand;

Crosley Group of Winston-Salem, N.C., distributed as Crosley Brand;

Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Mich., distributed as Whirlpool Brand, Roper Brand, and Estate Brand.

W.C. Wood Co. is aware of five reports of incidents in which children have opened locked freezers without a key, including one report of a child who allegedly became trapped in the freezer but was found and released by an adult. The company is not aware of any injuries involving these freezers. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

Consumers with recalled Whirlpool, Roper or Estate brand freezers should contact Whirlpool Corp. toll-free at (866) 580-9177 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, to determine if they have an affected freezer. Before calling, consumers should have the brand, model and serial number of their freezer, which they can get from the plate on the front inside wall on the right side, or the outside back wall next to the temperature control. Whirlpool will send a free modification kit to consumers with recalled Whirlpool, Roper or Estate brand freezers. Until the freezer lock is modified, unlock the lid and place the key in a child-safe location. There is no remedy for unrepaired Wood's, Quickfrez, Danby and Crosley freezers. Disable and destroy unrepaired freezers.

Whirlpool will send a free modification kit to consumers with recalled Whirlpool, Roper or Estate brand freezers. Until the freezer lock is modified, unlock the lid and place the key in a child-safe location. There is no remedy for unrepaired Wood's, Quickfrez, Danby and Crosley freezers. Disable and destroy unrepaired freezers.

W.C. Wood Co. is aware of five reports of incidents in which children have opened locked freezers without a key, including one report of a child who allegedly became trapped in the freezer but was found and released by an adult. The company is not aware of any injuries involving these freezers. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.