Consumer Product Recalls

Consumer product recalls come from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which oversees thousands of everyday items: appliances, power tools, furniture, electronics, toys, nursery products, sporting goods and more. Unlike food or drug recalls, the danger here is usually physical — a fire or burn hazard from a battery or heating element, a laceration risk from a blade or sharp edge, furniture that can tip over, or small parts that a child could choke on.

CPSC notices name a specific remedy, which is typically a free repair kit, a replacement, or a refund, and you usually don't need a receipt to claim it. Model and serial numbers are the key identifiers, and they're generally found on a rating label — on the underside, the back panel, inside a battery compartment, or on a sewn-in tag for textiles and children's products. Recalled goods also circulate for years on resale sites, so it's worth checking before buying second-hand.