What to do if you own a recalled product
Finding a recall for something in your home can leave you with a lot of questions. Start with the official notice: it identifies the affected products and explains what the company is asking owners to do.
You do not need to work out a repair or replacement plan yourself. Your first job is to confirm the match and follow the instructions for that particular recall.
Confirm that your item is included
Compare the model, serial or batch number, and any manufacturing dates with the notice. Read the description as well as looking at the photograph. Similar-looking items may have different identifiers.
Find the original through CPSC recalls or NHTSA recalls. If you cannot read a label, contact the company using the details in the official notice. Explain which information is missing and ask how to identify your item.
Steps
- Read the official notice’s instructions about use and the available remedy.
- Photograph the product label and save a copy of the notice.
- Contact the company through the notice’s stated channel.
- Follow its process for a refund, repair, replacement, or other stated remedy.
- Keep your confirmation number and any follow-up messages until the process is complete.
Follow the recall’s specific directions
The notice may tell you to stop using the product immediately. Follow that direction when it appears. Do not invent a temporary fix, change parts, or assume another model’s instructions apply to yours.
A company may need identifying photos or other information before it processes a remedy. Read those requirements before removing labels or disposing of anything. If the steps are unclear, ask the company to explain them in writing.
For a child car seat, follow the particular NHTSA notice and manufacturer’s directions about continued use and the remedy. For car seat information, use NHTSA’s car seat resources. This guide does not provide installation instructions.
Keep the process manageable
Put the model number, recall number, and company contact details in one note on your phone. Add the date you contacted the company and the next step it gave you. This helps if another caregiver needs to follow up.
Tell anyone else who uses the item about the notice and share the official instructions. That may include a grandparent, babysitter, or someone who borrowed it. Keep any item awaiting the recall process separate from items in everyday use, following the notice’s directions.
If the company does not respond, check the official notice again for updated contact or remedy information. You can also return to the relevant agency’s recall page for further information.
If someone has been injured
For any injury or a swallowed battery or magnet, get medical help right away. In the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911. Do not wait for a reply from this site or the company.
You can report a children’s product incident through SaferProducts.gov. Reporting an incident and requesting a recall remedy are separate tasks; keep records of each.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public information. Independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by CPSC or NHTSA.