Maybe Toby Keith could Write a Song about it
Cruise control switches in Ford Motor Company vehicles are continuing to cause problems. Specifically, they're heating up and causing the vehicle to burn. Nearly 1,500 fires are alleged to be due to a faulty switch that was installed in millions of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln vehicles from 1999 to 2004. However, the problem is still so worrisome that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued an advisory in February to customers who have still not fixed the switches. They are asking that owners disconnect the switches immediately. So far very few owners of the vehicles have brought them in to be repaired.
Ford alleges that the recall was done in stages because it wasn't clear in the beginning what was causing the problem. It is now believed that applying the brakes causes a vacuum which causes a seal in the switch to fail. Brake fluid then leaks in and corrodes the seal. Because the switch has power all the time, the corrosion causes the seal to overheat and ignite. This means that the fires can start even when the ignition is turned off and the vehicle is sitting in the driveway. This has caused not only vehicles, but buildings to burn.
Before the investigation was closed in August 2006, the NHTSA linked 65 fires directly to the faulty cruise control switch, but a further 1,472 complaints were made which allegedly began in these vehicles engine compartments. Sixty further complaints were registered after the investigation was closed.
Though Ford stopped making the switches in 2002, it is believed that many of the 2003 F-150 Lightning models were installed with the faulty switch. And, in what may be even more embarrassing for Ford, there was a recall of the recall.
Recall of the Recall
A wiring harness was fitted between the deactivation switch and speed control unit. This was done to cut the electrical current which ran to the switch in case it overheated. However, in most of the vehicles it was installed in, the harness didn't work because the fuse was installed on the wrong side. In some cases, the device was installed on the wrong vehicles.
Consumer auto safety advocate, Clarence Ditlow, believes that the NHTSA's notice was "too little too late" and should have been made as soon as the recall was announced. He also believes that the way this was drawn out over ten years is inexcusable. If there is a design flaw, he says, all vehicles with that design should be recalled.
Though no deaths are linked to the fires, three wrongful death claims have been filed against Ford.
If you believe that your Ford burned due to a faulty cruise control switch, you may have a defective product claim. Please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area. Then go buy a Toyota.
Labels: defective product, recall
Just in Time for Spring, Salmonella in Your Cantaloupe
Products containing Honduran grown cantaloupe are being recalled because of the risk of salmonella. The Honduran company, Agropecuaria Montelibano, has been linked to a multistate outbreak of the bacteria. The FDA ha s asked grocers across the country to remove the cantaloupe from grocery stores and blocked imports from the Honduran company after dozens of cases of salmonella were reported in 16 states. Fourteen people were hospitalized due to the illness.
Four firms including Dole Food Co., Bounty Fresh LLC, Spokane Products Inc., and Chiquita Brands International Inc. have joined other companies in recalling the product.
Salmonella shows up in people with a variety of symptoms including fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Brand names affected include:
- Mike's Melons
- Mayan Pride
- Chiquita
- Chestnut Hill Farms
- Perfect Melon
- Yokes
- Garden Patch
- Rosavers Classic
If you have purchased cantaloupe that matches any of these names, you might want to get rid of it immediately. Food poisoning can be extremely dangerous. If you've already eaten the product, and you became sick, there are still options (after you feel better).
If you think you became ill after ingesting salmonella laced cantaloupe, you may be able to received compensation. Please contact an experienced injury lawyer who knows about product liability in your area.
Labels: defective product, recall
Rocker Recall
In yet another example of why it's safer for children to watch TV, than play, Tek Nek Toys International L.P. has announced it is recalling the Rock 'N Ride plush rocker due to their unstable base. The base of the rocker has the potential to tip over, spilling the child riding it to the cold, hard ground. The recall includes the following rockers:
- Clifford Big Red Rocker
- Deluxe Bull
- Deluxe Pony
- Lil' Penguin
- Lil' Propeller Plane
- Brown and Pink Pony
- Deluxe Pony
- Pink Unicorn
So far there have been 35 reports of rockers tipping over, and ten reported injuries including bumps, bruises and lacerations.
The date code on the rockers in question is from July 26, 2007 through Dec. 29, 2007. The code is on a sticker inside the rocker's battery compartment. What is a battery compartment doing on a rocker, you ask? Because there is a button on the ear, hat or "dash," which activates phrases and songs when it is pushed. For example, the Deluxe Bull has two talking phrases, two bull riding sound effects, and a song called "Here I Come, I'm a Rocking Bull."
The rockers, made in China, were sold at Target, K-mart, Toys "R" Us, Atwoods, Pamida, and Wal-Mart. They were also available through the internet.
Tek Nek Toys said in a statement that the rocker should be taken away from your child, even if they haven't tipped over, or turned the tipping over into a game. The company will replace the rocker's base for free.
Children must be 18 months old and no more than 65 pounds to ride the rockers.
If your child has been injured by a dangerous toy, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.
Labels: defective product, recall
Metal Shavings Found in Lollipops
Remember the good old days when the only worries with handing out candy were razor blades in apples at Halloween? It seems that age of innocence has passed, never to return. Last week, an elementary school in Polk County, Florida had their Valentine's Day party crashed by metal shavings in their Pokemon lollipops. This was just after a Lakeland, Florida woman claimed to have found a razor blade in her child's candy. The importer, Sherwood Brands, recalled 400,000 treats and advised all stores within its distribution network to remove the Pokemon lollipops immediately. Dollar General sold the product, but has pulled it from all its stores nationwide since being notified of the situation. Polk County authorities began the investigation after Lisa Porter found the razor blade in the candy she bought for her son. Metal shavings were then found in lollipops sold at separate stores, leaving not much but conjecture. According to Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, the lollipops do not appear to be tampered with. The metal shavings were baked into the candy in - where else? - China.
The China Connection
China has certainly been ground zero in the world of recall. Toys, candy, pet food and other defective products have found their way to shelves in the U.S. Why, we as consumers wonder, is this continuing? As Sheriff Judd said: "We do know this: [the lollipops were] made in China, and the quality control was not there." Is it a mere problem of quality control in China, or is it something else? At least, in the case of the lollipops, you can see the metal shavings. You can see through the candy, which helped the authorities to determine this was not a case of product tampering. (Imagine if the shavings were in chocolate hearts or some other type of V-Day candy.) Had any of these children eaten any of this candy, the injuries suffered would probably be pretty awful. Cutting your tongue or mouth is one thing, but imagine swallowing shards of metal. Rumors of an international incident would surely follow if this were the case. While the chances of becoming entangled in the world of recalled products seem minute, given all the consumer products out there, it still happens. If you, or someone you know, have been injured due to a product defect, and you feel that you want to pursue legal representation, please contact an injury lawyer with experience in the field of product liability. Labels: defective product, product liability, recall
Toy Helicopter Recall
The U.S. Product Safety Consumer Commission and Soft Air U.S.A., Inc., of Grapevine, Texas, have announced that remote-controlled "Fun2Fly Microcopter" sold at sporting good stores and other retailers between May and December 2007 might catch on fire. It has been reported that the internal rechargeable batteries may combust, igniting not only the helicopter, but also anything nearby or burning someone. Soft Air U.S.A., Inc. has reported six instances of this problem, but thousands of the toy helicopter are at risk. The foam and plastic "Fun2Fly Microcopter" in question is manufactured in China and comes with the item number 91001. You can see the number above the UPC label. If you believe you have purchased one of these toys, it is recommended that you return it immediately to the retailer where you bought it. While the public has been inundated with reports of toy recalls this year, and the reasons are numerous, they need to be taken seriously. It is in your best interest to pay attention to the different products announced in the recalls. In several cases, injuries and deaths have occurred. If you, or someone you know, have been involved in a case like this, please contact an injury lawyer with experience in product liability to see what your options are. Labels: defective product, recall
Fentanyl Painkiller Patch Recall
Another drug recall has been announced. This time patches containing the painkiller fentanyl were recalled on Tuesday, February 12, due to a flaw that might cause caregivers or patients to overdose. The FDA recently put out its second warning in two years on the dangers of misusing this drug. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid. It is given only to people in chronic pain who are used to narcotics of this nature. If you are not used to narcotics like this, it can cause breathing problems. While it should be given to people in serious chronic pain, the FDA reported cases where doctors prescribed fentanyl for post-surgical pain and even just for headaches. The problem lies in the fact that some patches may have a cut in the lining of the reservoir where the fentanyl gel is stored. If this leaks into the packaging, it could cause caregivers or their patients to come into contact with the drug. This could cause breathing difficulties or even death. Fentanyl is sold in the U.S. under the brand name Duragesic by PriCara and generically by Sandoz Inc. 25-microgram-per-hour patches with expiration dates on or before December 2009 are involved in the recall. PriCara claims that two of every million patches might contain this flaw. You might have a claim against the company if you feel you have been affected by this flaw or recall. If this is the case, you should contact a lawyer with experience in drug recalls or drug injuries to set up an initial consultation. Labels: drug injury, FDA, fentanyl, recall
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