Michael Finney's Consumer Blog

10 bike-related recalls to check out

Now that spring is here, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding consumers to check to see if their bicycles, bicycle components or accessories have been recalled before using them.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12177.html

Popular step ladder being recalled

Frontgate has been selling a popular closet ladder for years, now it turns out some of them could be dangerous. The ladders can unexpectedly break, causing users to fall. There have been nearly 900 reports of the ladders breaking and a couple dozen people have suffered minor injuries.

>>Get all the details at CPSC.gov

Candy recall: Did you get any of this on Halloween?

Now we are having trouble with lead in candy? The California Department of Public Health is warning that Ego Sour Plum candy has unacceptable levels of lead. Ego Sour Plum candy is imported and sold in a brightly colored orange cellophane packaging with the brand name EGO at the top left corner and the word “Sour” circled in purple with white letters.

Recall of 131,000 TV wall mounts

That flat panel TV might be getting ready to fall off its wall mount. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with, Milestone AV Technologies LLC, of Savage, Minn., today announced a voluntary recall of about 131,000 Flat screen television wall mounts. The elbow joint components on the wall mount’s arm do not fit together properly, causing the attached television to tilt and possibly fall when the television is adjusted. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

>>Get more information at CPSC.gov

A lead tainted Tiara! Can you say recall?

A dangerous Tiara is recalled because of lead. Wilton Industries has recalled its Youth Tiara Recalled because of a Lead Exposure Hazard.

>>Here’s all the info you need at cpsc.gov

A VOX Amp recall? Aging rockers ask, 'What's up with that'?

As it turns out it is not an electric shock hazard with an amp, but a problem with a strap to a carrying case. Who are the roadies now? A broken strap gets reported? 

>>Full details on the recall at voxamps.com
 

Recall of children's medication

Did you catch this?

A rare weekend recall of children's medication: Tylenol, Motrin and Zyrtec. The FDA says some of the products recalled may have a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified on the bottle. Others may contain particles, while still others may contain inactive ingredients that do not meet internal testing requirements.

Details are available by telephone at 1-888-222-6036 or on the Web at: http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com.

It is not just Toyotas!

Has your car been recalled? Here’s a video explaining how and where to check.

Breakthrough in negotiations with Toyota

The California attorney general has cut a deal with Toyota to more fully compensate owners of recalled Toyotas. No free money here, but at least the repair shouldn’t cost you anything.  If you don’t live in California still demand this, you have it coming.  Here is a portion of the official press statement:

Under the terms of today's agreement, Toyota will provide owners of recalled vehicles the following services:
- Pick-up and return of vehicles by the dealership;
- Transportation to the dealership and/or to the owner's place of work;
- Alternative transportation, such as a rental car, loaner vehicle or taxi reimbursement for a reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to use his or her car; and
- Expedited scheduling for repair services.

These services will be provided by Toyota through the dealers at no cost to either the owners or the dealer.

The following Toyota vehicle recalls are covered by today's agreement:
- September 29, 2009 for floormat entrapment;
- January 21, 2010 for sticking accelerator pedals;
- February 8, 2010 for anti-lock brake system issues; and
- February 12, 2010 for drive-shaft failure.

Girl Scout cookie recall? Say it ain't so!

The Girl Scouts are replacing some of the Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies it sold. Several batches have a “funny taste” and some smell differently than they should. There are no safety concerns, but the Girl Scouts is still issuing a voluntary recall so everyone gets the cookies that taste and smell as they did in the past.  When I spoke to the Girl Scout headquarters in New York City a little while ago, I was told local councils buy from one of two bakeries and the cookies could show up in one town, but not the next town over. If the cookies don’t smell right that’s your tip off.

Information on the voluntary recall