The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Recall of the Week: All Power American snow throwers due to fire hazard

All Power American is recalling about 10,000 single stage snow throwers.

Exposure to Chinese gasoline for extended periods of time while testing the product overseas caused the carburetor needle to become corroded and allow fuel to leak, posing a fire hazard to consumers, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The company has received 58 reports of carburetor leaks. No fires or injuries have been reported.

The snow throwers are black and yellow and have a red cap on the gas tank. They have a 20-inch wide snow clearing width and an 87cc, 4 cycle engine. The model number of the recalled snow throwers is SB044P, which is printed on a yellow and black sticker located on the top of the unit with the phrase “20 Inch Clearing Width.”

They were sold at Menards Stores and independent hardware retailersfrom September 2012 through December 2013 for about $200.

Consumers should immediately stop using their snow thrower and contact All-Power to obtain a free repair, the company and commission advise.

For more information, call All Power America at 888-896-6881 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit http://www.allpoweramerica.com/ and click on Safety Recall.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Coravin wine access systems due to laceration hazard

Coravin is recalling about 65,000 wine access systems in the United States and about 640 in Canada

The system can cause wine bottles to break during pressurization, posing a risk of lacerations, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Coravin has received 13 reports of bottles breaking. In one incident, a bottle broke into four pieces and caused two chipped teeth and a laceration that required stitches. In four others, the bottles cracked and leaked. In eight cases, bottles broke into two pieces.

This recall involves all Coravin 1000 wine access systems. The system uses a hollow needle to penetrate a wine bottle cork and allow wine to be dispensed without removing the cork.

Recall of the Week: Hondas, Nissans, Mazdas added to recall of flawed air bags

The recall of vehicles with a defective air bag component is being expanded to include about 3 million Honda, Nissan, and Mazda vehicles.

Honda is recalling 2.03 million vehicles, including the 2000-2005 Fit, Element, and CR-V models, according to the New York Times. Nissan is recalling an additional 755,000 vehicles, including the Cube, X-Trail, and some Infinity models produced between 2001 and 2003. Mazda said it would recall 159,807 Atenza and RX-8 vehicles made between 2002 and 2004.

If a crash occurs and an air bag needs to be deployed, the inflator could explode causing metal fragments to strike and injure vehicle occupants.

Recall of the Week: Cost Plus glass bubble knobs due to laceration hazard

Cost Plus is recalling about 251,400 glass bubble knobs.

The knobs can break and expose sharp pieces of glass, posing a risk of laceration to the consumer, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Cost Plus has received five reports of broken knobs resulting in five reports of hand and/or finger lacerations.

This recall involves glass bubble knobs used on cabinet doors and drawers.

Recall of the Week: Toyota issues second recall for defective air bags that could rupture and blast out metal fragments

Photo: IFCAR

Toyota is recalling more than 844,000 vehicles to address a safety defect in the front passenger air bag inflator. It may produce excessive pressure causing the inflator to rupture when the air bag is deployed.

During a crash, the ruptured inflator could blast out metal fragments that have the potential to seriously injure occupants.

Vehicles involved include: 2002-2004 Toyota Sequoia; 2002-2004 Lexus SC; and 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and Tundra and Pontiac Vibe.

Recall of the Week: Ford vehicles due to power steering defect that increases crash risk

Photo: IFCAR

Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 1.4 million SUVs and sedans in North America, most for the possible loss of power steering, the company and U.S. regulators said Thursday.

If power steering is lost, the risk of a crash increases when vehicles are traveling slowly.

Ford said U.S. regulators have received reports from consumers of six injuries and five crashes related to power steering.

The recall involves 195,527 Explorer SUVs in North America from model years 2011 to 2013 and 915,216 older model Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs, the Forbes article “Ford Recalls Nearly 1.4 Million Vehicles in North America” said.

Other vehicles are being recalled for a corrosion issue and floor mats that may interfere with accelerator pedal operation.

For information on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Related articles

Recall of the Week: 1.3 million General Motors vehicles due to steering defect

Recall of the Week: Chevy Cruze compact cars due to brake problem

Recall of the Week: General Motors cars due to seat belt defect

Photo: Bull-Doser

General Motors is recalling about 1.3 million vehicles, model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclaves manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014; Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014; and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014; and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010.

In these vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front seat may wear out and separate over time, General Motors said.

If the steel cable becomes worn out and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the person sitting in the seat, increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the device that regulates the tension in the lap belt, free of charge. The manufacturer will provide a notification schedule.

Owners can contact General Motors at 800-222-1020 for Chevrolet, 800-521-7300 for Buick, 800-462-8782 for GMC, and  at 800-553-6000 for Saturn. General Motors recall number for this recall is 14187.

Consumers may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

General Motors to pay record $35 million fine for delayed response to ignition recall

Photo: IFCAR

General Motors has agreed to pay a record $35 million fine and take part in oversight requirements as a result of findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's investigation on the Chevrolet Cobalt and the automaker's failure to report a safety defect to the agency in a timely manner.

The defect caused airbags in some Chevrolet Cobalt and other GM models not to deploy.

This action is the highest fine ever paid as a result of a NHTSA investigation of violations stemming from a recall.

As part of the agreement, the agency also ordered GM to make changes to its review of safety issues and to improve its ability to evaluate the possible consequences of potential safety defects.

Recall of the Week: 3-in-1 flashlights distributed free by Marlboro cigarettes due to burn and injury hazard

Altria Group Distribution Co. is recalling about 365,000 3-in-1 flashlights that contain a compass and match holder in addition to the flash light.

Matches inside the match holder can ignite when they come in contact with the striker pad under the compass cap, posing burn and injury hazards to consumers, according to the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The firm has received 11 reports of the matches igniting inside the flashlight, including two reports of the flashlight exploding. One consumer reported receiving minor burns, and one reported receiving medical attention for injuries to his hand.

Recall of the Week: White-Rodgers home heating and cooling thermostats due to fire hazard

White-Rodgers is recalling about 740,000 home heating and cooling thermostats in the United States and 403,000 in Canada.

The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. No injuries have been reported.

The firm has received seven reports of burn damage to the thermostat, including two involving minor property damage.