The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

General Motors signs settlement with states over defective ignition switch

Photo: IFCAR

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia have reached a $120 million settlement with General Motors Co. over charges that General Motors concealed safety issues related to ignition switch defects in General Motors vehicles. 

The states investigated the auto manufacturer’s failure to disclose known safety defects associated with key rotation and/or ignition switch issues in several models and model years of General Motors vehicles.

“Instead of prioritizing customers, General Motors turned a blind eye for years and chose to conceal the safety defects associated with several models of their vehicles,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said.

Ningbo Litesun Electric and Home Depot recall outlet converters due to shock and fire hazards

Ningbo Litesun Electric and Home Depot are recalling about 42,000 outlet converters.

The outlet converters’ front outlet prongs aren’t configured correctly, causing reverse polarity when plugs are inserted, posing shock and fire hazards.

The firm has received one report of a consumer who was shocked while using one of the outlet converters.

Playtex recalling children’s plates and bowls due to choking hazard

Playtex is recalling about 3.6 million children’s Playtex plates and bowls in the United States and an about 1.9 million in Canada.

The clear plastic layer over the graphics can peel or bubble from the surface of the plates and bowls, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Playtex has received 372 reports of the plastic layer bubbling or peeling. In 11 cases, pieces of the detached plastic were found in children’s mouths, including four reports of choking on a piece of the plastic layer.

DICK’S Sporting Goods is recalling resistance tubes due to injury hazard

DICK’S Sporting Goods is recalling about 207,500 fitness gear resistance tubes.

The resistance tubes can break when used and hit the user, posing an injury hazard.

The firm has received 12 reports of tubes breaking, resulting in two reports of consumers who were hit by a broken tube and a consumer who fell when a tube broke.

John Deere is recalling lawn tractors and transmissions due to crash hazard

John Deere is recalling about 25,000 D105 lawn tractors and 500 transmissions sold as parts and about 1,200 tractors sold in Canada.

The transmission can fail, posing a crash hazard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Room Essentials 4-drawer dressers recalled by Target due tip-over and entrapment hazards

Target is recalling about 175,000 Room Essentials 4-drawer dressers in the United Stated and about 3,000 units in Canada.

The dressers are unstable if they’re not anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children.

The firm has received 12 reports of dressers tipping or collapsing, including tipping over on two three-year-old children. No injuries have been reported.

Chest of drawers recalled by Ameriwood due to tip-over and entrapment hazards

Ameriwood is recalling about 1.6 million Mainstays chests of drawers in the United States and about 1,000 in Canada.

The recalled chests of drawers are unstable if they aren’t anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children. The chests don’t comply with the performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard, ASTM F2057-14. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has received one report of an injury after a chest of drawers tipped over onto a four-year-old.

Handi-Craft Co. recalls Dr. Brown’s baby soap products due to risk of bacteria

Handi-Craft Co. is recalling about 23,000 Dr. Brown’s natural bottle and dish soap products.

The bottle and dish soap can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to bacteria poses a risk of respiratory and other infections in immunocompromised individuals.

No injuries or incidents have been reported.

This recall involves Dr. Brown’s Natural Bottle & Dish Soap sold separately and with Dr. Brown’s bottle brush as a bottle cleaning kit.

Dr. Martens vegan boots being recalled due to chemical exposure hazard

The importer Airwair is recalling about 30,000 Dr. Martens vegan boots in the United States and an addition 900 in Canada.

Prolonged and direct contact with the boot tongue lining can expose the wearer to the chemical benzidine.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

ATVs recalled by Kawasaki due to fire hazard

Kawasaki is recalling about 15,000 all-terrain vehicles. The fuel tap can leak, posing a fire hazard.

Kawasaki has received 18 reports of fuel leakage from the fuel tap. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves 2013-2017 KFX50 and 2012-2017 KFX90 KawasakiATVs. The recalled ATVs have four wheels and seating for one person and were sold in a variety of colors. The model name is printed on the right and left front fender. The vehicle identification number or VIN is located on the front of the steel frame behind the bumper.