The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Zippo recalls Ronson tech torches due to fire hazard

Zippo is recalling about 660,000 Ronson tech torch auto starts in the United States and about 98,000 in Canada.

The Ronson tech torch can continue to produce a flame after the activation trigger is released to the off position, posing a fire hazard.

Zippo has identified 36 reports in the U.S. of the Ronson tech torch continuing to operate after being turned off, including one report of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

At AutoNation, 1 in 9 used cars have unrepaired safety recalls, consumer groups say

AutoNation, America’s largest auto retailer, is selling used vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls including explosive Takata airbags, faulty GM ignition switches, and defects with no fix available. “Unsafe Used Cars for Sale,” a report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety Foundation, found that one in nine cars for sale at AutoNation dealerships across the country have unrepaired defects that make them dangerous to drivers, passengers, and others on the roadways.

“By selling recalled cars with safety defects, AutoNation puts customers in danger before they even reach home,” said Adam Garber, consumer watchdog for the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “The only way that AutoNation can ensure a ‘worry-free’ purchase is to repair every recalled vehicle before selling it.”

The survey found numerous unsafe cars among more than 2,400 vehicles analyzed at 28 dealerships in 12 states. The recalled vehicles had defects that could cause vehicles to stall in traffic, seat belts to fail, Takata air bags to propel metal fragments at passengers, cars to catch on fire, or steering to malfunction.

Belmont four-drawer dressers are being recalled by Ridgewood due to tip-over and entrapment hazard

Ridgewood is recalling about 1 million Belmont four-drawer dressers.

The recalled dressers are unstable and can tip over if they aren’t anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children. In addition, those models of dressers over 30-inches tall don’t comply with the performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard (ASTM F2057-14).

No tip-overs or injuries have been reported.

Gordon folding knives are being recalled by Harbor Freight due to laceration hazard

Harbor Freight Tools is recalling about 1.1 million Gordon folding knives.

The locking mechanism can fail to engage on extension of the blade, posing a laceration hazard.

Harbor Freight Tools has received seven reports of the knife failing to lock, resulting in six reports of laceration injuries, including four that required medical attention.

Utility bars are being recalled by DeWALT due to injury hazard

DeWALT is recalling about 145,000 multi-functional utility bars.

The utility bar can break while being used for prying, posing an injury hazard to the user.

DeWALT has received at least 56 reports of the utility bars breaking, including four reports of injured users.

Mowing heads recalled by STIHL due to injury hazard

STIHL is recalling bout 73,000 polycut mowing heads.

The bolts connecting the plastic blades and holding the mowing head together can come loose and the mowing head can come apart, posing a risk of injury to the user or bystanders.

STIHL Inc. has received 28 reports of loose bolts or mowing heads coming apart, including two reports of injuries.

Glass cooktops are being recalled by Whirlpool due to burn and fire hazards

Whirlpool is recalling about 26,300 Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and JennAir brand glass cooktops with touch controls in the United States, 2,800 in Canada, and 128 in Mexico.

The recalled cooktop surface units can turn on by themselves, posing burn and fire hazards.

Whirlpool Corp. has received 133 reports of incidents involving the cooktop surface units turning on by themselves. This resulted in 14 reports, including 13 in the U.S. and one in Canada, of heat damage to nearby items and four reports of items catching on fire, including one report of property damage. Two minor burn injuries have been reported.

Nearly 6 million Contigo kids’ water bottles are being recalled due to choking hazard

Contigo is recalling about 5.7 million kids cleanable water bottles in the United States, 157,000 in Canada, and 28,000 in Mexico.

The water bottle’s clear silicone spout can detach, posing a choking hazard to children.

Contigo has received 149 reports of the spout detaching including 18 spouts found in children’s mouths.

Rubber brooms recalled by Norwex due to laceration hazard

Norwex is recalling about 58,000 rubber brooms.

The broom handles can break in half, exposing a metal inner rim, posing a laceration hazard to the user. 

Norwex has received 41 reports of the broom handle breaking during use, including six reports of minor injuries to user hands or fingers. 

This recall involves extendable indoor/outdoor white rubber brooms that adjust in height from 30.7 to 40.6 inches. The “Norwex” logo is located on the plastic head covering the rubber bristles. An embossed date stamp code of 18/9, 18/10, 18/11, or 18/12 is located on the screw joint and lock base.

Vinyl covers for motorized awnings are being recalled by SunSetter after one death reported

SunSetter is recalling about 270,000 vinyl covers for motorized awnings in the United States and about 11,000 units in Canada.

If a powered awning is activated while the cover is secured with bungee tie-downs then the cover is removed, the awning can open unexpectedly with enough force to strike a consumer, causing him or her to fall and suffer serious injury or death.

The company has received 14 reports of incidents, including one death and six injuries. The death occurred when a 73-year-old man fell from a ladder and went over a balcony after a motorized awning opened unexpectedly and struck him while he was removing the cover’s bungee tie-downs.