Recalls this week: Snowmobiles, ottomans, printers

Published February 3, 2012 by
Personal Finance

Snowmobiles that could be crash-prone, ottomans that may collapse and printers that can overheat and cause fires are among the items recalled this week.

A rundown of the products and the problems entailed:

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SNOWMOBILES

DETAILS: Arctic Cat snowmobiles, made by Arctic Cat Inc. of Thief River Falls, Minn., and sold at Arctic Cat dealerships from May through December 2011. The recall involves the 2012 model year of the F, XF and M model snowmobiles. These models were previously recalled in December.

WHY: The lower steering tie-rod attachment can loosen and cause loss of steering control, posing a crash hazard.

INCIDENTS: Arctic Cat has received four reports of incidents, including one complete loss of steering control. No injuries reported.

HOW MANY: About 19,000.

FOR MORE: Call 800-279-6851 or visit http://www.arctic-cat.com .

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SLEEPER OTTOMANS

DETAILS: Fold-out sleeper ottomans, which unfold to three cushions on a black steel frame, manufactured by Perfect World of Xiamen Fujian, China, and imported by LTD Commodities LLC of Bannockburn, Ill. They were sold by LTD Commodities, ABC Distributing and The Lakeside Collection both online and through catalogs between June and October 2011.

WHY: The welding joints on the legs can break, posing a fall hazard.

INCIDENTS: Four reports received of ottoman legs that have broken, including two reports of minor injuries.

HOW MANY: About 2,650.

FOR MORE: Call 866-736-3654 or 866-847-4327 or visit http://www.cpsc.gov .

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PRINTERS

DETAILS: Konica Minolta printers, manufactured in China for Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA Inc. of Ramsey, NJ, and sold at Konica Minolta dealers and various resellers from June 2010 through March 2011.

WHY: The printers can short-circuit and overheat during use, posing a fire hazard.

INCIDENTS: The firm is aware of two reports of the printers overheating. No injuries reported.

HOW MANY: About 8,430.

FOR MORE: Call 800-825-5664 or visit http://www.kmbs.konicaminolta.us .

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BICYCLE PARTS

DETAILS: 2012 bicycles with Advanced Group carbon forks, made by Advanced Group of Taiwan and distributed by Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. of Morgan Hill, Calif., sold from June through November 2011. The recall involves the 2012 Tricross Sport and 2012 Tricross Comp model bicycles.

WHY: The brake component housed within the bicycle’s carbon fork can disengage from the fork and allow the brake assembly to contact the wheel spokes while rotating, posing a fall hazard.

INCIDENTS: None.

HOW MANY: About 460. (Another 14,200 were recalled last September.)

FOR MORE: Call 877-808-8154 or visit http://www.specialized.com .

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OVERARCHING FLOOR LAMPS

DETAILS: Floor lamps imported by West Elm, a division of Williams-Sonoma Inc. of San Francisco; sold at West Elm retail stores nationwide, West Elm catalogs and online from March 2011 through November 2011. The floor lamps were manufactured in China.

WHY: A short-circuit can occur in the lamp’s wiring, posing a shock hazard to consumers.

INCIDENTS: At least 39 reports of short-circuits in the lamp, including three reports of shock, one report of a minor burn to a consumer’s finger and two reports of minor property damage.

HOW MANY: About 5,750.

FOR MORE: Call 855-236-1941 or visit http://www.westelm.com .

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FAX MACHINES

DETAILS: HP 1040 and 1050 fax machines were made in China and imported by Hewlett-Packard Co. of Palo Alto, Calif.; sold at electronics, computer and camera stores nationwide, and online from November 2004 through December 2011.

WHY: The fax machines can overheat due to an internal electrical component failure, posing fire and burn hazards.

INCIDENTS: Seven reports of fax machines overheating and catching fire, resulting in property damage, including one instance of significant property damage and one instance of a minor burn injury to a consumer’s finger. Six incidents were reported in the U.S. and one in Canada.

HOW MANY: About 928,000 in the U.S. and 240,000 in Canada and Mexico.

FOR MORE: Call 888-654-9296 or visit http://www.hp.com/go/faxrecall/US-en .

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TEA LIGHT CANDLE WARMERS

DETAILS: Holiday-themed tea light candle warmers made in China, imported by Nantucket Distributing Co. Inc., of Middleboro, Mass. and sold by the Christmas Tree Shops of Union, N.J.; sold exclusively at Christmas Tree Shops from November through December 2011.

WHY: The candle warmers can catch fire because the warming bowl is positioned too close to the tea light candle, posing fire and burn hazards.

INCIDENTS: The firm has received one report of the Snowmen candle warmer catching on fire causing a minor burn injury to a consumer’s hand.

HOW MANY: About 5,700.

FOR MORE: Call 888-287-3232 or visit http://www.christmastreeshops.com .

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LIGHTS

DETAILS: Hurricane style lights made in China, imported by Nantucket Distributing Co. Inc. of Middleboro, Mass. and retailed by Christmas Tree Shops, of Union, N.J.; sold at Christmas Tree Shops from December 2010 through November 2011.

WHY: An electrical short-circuit can occur in the light’s internal wiring and cause smoke, posing a fire hazard.

INCIDENTS: The firm has received one report of the product causing smoke and a burning smell. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 4,500.

FOR MORE: Call 888-287-3232 or visit http://www.christmastreeshops.com .

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POWER STRIPS

DETAILS: Lush Life power strips made in China and imported by the Container Store Inc., of Coppell, Texas; sold at the Container Stores nationwide and online from October through December 2011.

WHY: The power strips have undersized wiring, and the wiring and plastic strip fail to meet the requirements for fire resistance, posing a fire hazard.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 7,200.

FOR MORE: Call 888-266-8246 or visit http://www.containerstore.com .

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