Note: Firm out of business. Do not use these products. Discard or destroy these products.
-
Recalled children's riding vehicle
The vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children.
Recall Details
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Empire Industries, of Tarboro, N.C., recalled about 113,000 battery-powered children's riding vehicles, marketed as "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L," for repair. The vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children.
CPSC and Empire have received about 100 reports of chargers overheating, melting or burning. Five house fires have been reported resulting in at least $100,000 in property damage. One child and one adult received burns to hands on overheated charger jacks.
The Power Driver vehicles being recalled are powered by two 6-volt batteries, and were manufactured from July 1995 to December 1996. The vehicles are made of plastic and were sold under the following model names: Go-Kart, Beach Splash, Sun Dream, Trail Tracker, Rescue Patrol, and Chevy Z-71 Pick-Up Truck. The model name "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L" appear on each vehicle. The company will help consumers identify if their model is part of the recall. Power Driver vehicles are intended for children 3 to 8 years old, and the vehicles' speed ranges from 2.5 to 5 mph, depending on the model.
Toy stores and retail catalogs sold the vehicles nationwide from July 1995 through December 1997 for about $130 to $250.
Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately. Empire Industries is no longer in business and cannot provide charger adapters or other replacement parts. Consumers should discontinue use of these products, and discard or destroy them.
Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately. Empire Industries is no longer in business and cannot provide charger adapters or other replacement parts. Consumers should discontinue use of these products, and discard or destroy them.
CPSC and Empire have received about 100 reports of chargers overheating, melting or burning. Five house fires have been reported resulting in at least $100,000 in property damage. One child and one adult received burns to hands on overheated charger jacks.
Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.
If you are experiencing issues with a recall remedy or believe a company is being non-responsive to your remedy request, please use this form and explain the situation to CPSC.
Related Recalls
The seats, metal carabiners or quick links, or webbing straps of the recalled swing seats can break during use, posing a risk of serious injury due to fall hazard.
The recalled bath seats violate the mandatory standard for infant bath seats because they are unstable and can tip over while in use, posing a risk of serious injury or death due to drowning.
The recalled teething toys violate the mandatory safety standard for toys because the silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted. The silicone strings can reach the back of the throat and become lodged, posing a risk of respiratory distress and a deadly choking hazard.
The recalled toy violates the small parts ban because the product is for children under three years of age and the red knobs can detach, posing a deadly choking hazard.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our email alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn and Truth Social.
- Report a dangerous product or product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
- Contact a media specialist.
