The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Vortex electric space heaters being recalled by Vornado Air due to fire and burn hazards

Vornado Air is recalling about 350,000 VH101 Personal Vortex electric space heaters.

The electric space heaters can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Vornado has received 15 reports of the heaters catching on fire.

This recall involves Vornado VH101 Personal Vortex electric space heaters sold in the following colors: black, coral orange, grayed jade, cinnamon, fig, ice white, and red. The heaters measure about 7.2 inches long by 7.8 inches wide by 7.10 inches high and have two heat settings, low and high, and a fan only/no heat setting.

Polaris fined for not disclosing unsafe ROVs, and safety agency recalls more of its vehicles

Polaris Industries Inc., a recreational off-road vehicle or ROV maker, has agreed to pay a $27.25 million penalty for failing to warn the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that some of its ROV models contained defects that could create a substantial hazard or that the ROVs created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.

It’s the largest civil penalty imposed by the commission. In addition, the agency also announced a series of recalls for some of Polaris’ ROVs.

The announcement is important because the commission, the nation’s chief product safety agency, should be serious about holding manufacturers accountable when they fail to inform it about unsafe products, said Remington A. Gregg, counsel for civil justice and consumer rights for Public Citizen, advocacy organization.

Scotch thermal laminators are being recalled by 3M due to burn hazard

3M is recalling about 395,000 Scotch thermal laminators in the United and an addition 130 in in Canada.

The plastic enclosure can overheat, posing a burn hazard.

3M has received 10 reports of the laminators overheating and causing deformation of the bottom of the plastic enclosures. No injuries have been reported.

Halogen light bulbs recalled by H-E-B due to laceration and fire hazards

H-E-B is recalling about 2.5 million GTC halogen light bulbs.

The halogen light bulbs can shatter when screwed into in a lamp or light fixture, posing laceration and fire hazards to consumers.

H-E-B has received 14 reports of the light bulbs shattering in a lamp or light fixture. One consumer had a cut on his hand, and another had a burn to his hand and cuts on his foot.

The recalled GTC halogen light bulbs were sold in packages of two or four bulbs. The bulb packages were sold in 25 watt, 40 watt, 60 watt, 75 watt, or 100 watt bulb varieties in either clear or soft white colors. The bulbs measure about 4.5 inches in length and 2.375 inches in diameter. The tops of the bulbs read “GTC” and include the wattage and lumens values.

Dual sensor smoke alarms are being recalled by Kidde because alarms could fail

Kidde is recalling about 452,000 photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms in the United States and about 40,000 in Canada.

A yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the smoke alarm’s ability to detect smoke, posing a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their home.

The firm has received one report of the yellow protective cap being inside a smoke alarm before it was installed in a consumer’s home. No reports of incidents or injuries as a result of a cap being left in the smoke alarm have been reported.

Ford recalls 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels might fall off

Photo: Bull-Doser

Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 1.4 million Lincoln and Ford cars in North America due to unsecured bolts that may let the steering wheel loosen or dislodge.

Two accidents and one injury have been reported because of the faulty steering wheels.

The bolts may loosen over time resulting in the steering wheel possibly getting loose or detaching from the steering column.

Sinktop switch accessory for garbage disposals recalled by InSinkErator due to fire hazard

InSinkErator is recalling about 1.4 million single outlet sinktop switches in the United stated and about 28 in Canada.

Water can get into the power module, posing a fire hazard.

InSinkErator has received 40 reports of water causing overheating damage to the power module and outlet beneath the sink. No injuries have been reported.

Air conditioner-heat pump unit recalled by Goodman Co. due to burn and fire hazard

Goodman Co. is recalling about 534,000 packaged terminal air conditioners/heat units in the United States and an addition 3,400 in Canada.

The outdoor fan motors can overheat, possibly causing burns or a fire.

Goodman has received nine reports of the units catching on fire, including one report of smoke inhalation requiring medical attention.

Yamaha is recalling golf cars and personal transportation vehicles due to crash hazard

Yamaha is recalling about 161,000 golf cars and personal transportation vehicles.

The brake cables on the golf cars and PTVs can fail, posing a crash hazard.

The firm has received 285 reports of brake cables failing. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the following model year 2015 through 2018 gas and electric-powered golf cars, PTVs, and utility vehicles. The vehicles were sold in a variety of colors including blue, green, red, white, tan, and silver. The model and serial numbers can be found on a label under the seat on the left or right side.

States reach agreement with Takata on defective airbags

Forty-four states and the District of Columbia announced a settlement Thursday with TK Holdings Inc. over allegations that the company concealed safety issues related to its airbag systems installed in millions of vehicles. The company, the U.S. subsidiary of Takata, filed for bankruptcy in June 2017, and its reorganization plan has been filed in a federal bankruptcy court. 

An investigation by the agencies found the company failed to disclose the safety defects of some airbag inflators using ammonium nitrate as a propellant. The settlement agreement has been presented to the bankruptcy court for approval.

“This settlement is the result of an investigation into an extremely dangerous public safety risk that has killed at least 20 individuals and injured hundreds more,” said Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt. “These inflators posed a significant risk to anyone who operated or rode as a passenger in these vehicles.”