Skip to main content

CPSC, Wal-Mart Announce Recall of Red Devil Gas Grills Sold at Wal-Mart

  • No image available
Recall Date:
July 19, 2002

Recall Details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2002
Release # 02-206
Wal-Mart Recall Hotline: (800) WALMART
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores, of Bentonville, Ark., is recalling about 60,000 Red Devil gas grills sold at Wal-Mart. About 155,000 of these grills were manufactured by e4L Inc., of Encino, Calif., and Quantum North America Inc., of Encino, Calif. Because the manufacturer is out of business, CPSC issued a warning about these grills in May 2002.

The product's design allows consumers to light the grill at an air intake tube, instead of at the burner. Though the grill appears to function normally, gas inside the air intake tube ignites. The tube can reach temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit and present a burn hazard to consumers. In some earlier grills, the heat produced by lighting the grill at the air intake tube damaged the plastic support piece and caused the grill to fall to the ground. When it collapses, flames from the grill can burn nearby consumers and ignite surrounding combustibles.

There have been 44 reports of consumers suffering burns to legs, hands and fingers, including reports of some third degree burns, after the grills collapsed during use. More than 1,000 consumers returned their grills to the manufacturer because the grills collapsed. There have been no reports of incidents or injuries involving these grills sold by Wal-Mart.

These red metal gas grills have a tripod stand. They have a logo on the label of the lid and grill base showing a devil cooking at a grill with the writing, "Red Devil." The lid also reads "The Portable Outdoor Kitchen." The black plastic base, above the tripod, reads "QUANTUM HOMEWARES." Components sold with the grill include a heat plate, an oversized skillet with handles, a table-safe serving trivet, and carrying totes. They were manufactured in Hong Kong.

Quantum and e4L sold these grills directly to consumers through television infomercials from about May 1998 through January 1999 for about $160. This recall only includes grills sold at Wal-Mart.

Picture of Recalled Grill

CPSC sued e4L Inc. and Quantum North America Inc. to obtain a recall, and an administrative law judge granted CPSC a default judgment when these manufacturers failed to appear. The firms are liquidating their assets under bankruptcy law.

Both the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and QVC previously notified their customers directly about the hazard these grills pose, and provided a remedy. Since Quantum and e4L have declared bankruptcy, there is no remedy available for grill bought from retailers other than HSN, QVC and Wal-Mart.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using these grills immediately. Consumers who purchased Red Devil gas grills from Wal-Mart can return them to the store for a refund. For more information, consumers can call Wal-Mart Customer Service at (800) WALMART anytime, or visit Wal-Mart's web site at www.walmart.com.

Consumers who purchased their Red Devil Gas Grills from a retailer other than Wal-Mart should contact the retailer. If that retailer does not provide a refund, repair or replacement for the grill, consumers should contact CPSC at (800) 638-2772 anytime. Additionally, consumers who are aware of any incidents with these grills or who want additional information also should contact CPSC.

About 19,300 of these grills, sold directly by e4L, were recalled in July 1998 because the burners could disconnect from the burner pan. The firm received 21 reports of the burners on these grills disconnecting and one consumer suffered burns. Even if consumers participated in this previous recall program, they should stop using these grills since this warning addresses a different hazard.

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.
About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death 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. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

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:
Choose Your Recall Emails Get Notified About Each Recall via Email.
Report an unsafe product