Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has told North American car dealers to discontinue sales of six popular car models with heated seats because the fabric does not comply with U.S. safety codes, and have the potential to catch fire.

The order affects 36,000 trucks, cars, and minivans; which equals to nearly 13% of the inventory currently on dealer lots in the United States. Vehicles being sold in Canada, Mexico, Korea, Israel, and other countries around the globe are also affected however the company did not give exact numbers on their website.

Currently there have been no issues of fires or injuries reported, but Toyota is not legally allowed to sell cars that do not comply with U.S. safety codes. Models affected include Toyota Camery, Avalon, Sienna, and Tacoma models with heated seats that were produced between 2013 and 2014, as well as Corollas and Tundras from 2014. Camry currently ranks as the top-selling mid-size sedan in the United States with more than 408,000 model sales last year alone.

All of the models affected were produced in U.S. factories-some models were exported to South Korea where safety regulators discovered the problem after disassembling the seats and testing individual fabrics. The fire hazard lies in the soft material beneath seat covers that does not adhere to safety codes. Toyota does not yet know how long repairs of this problem will take, however replacement material is currently being manufactured and installed at factories. Dealers will use the material to fix cars that are currently on their lots. Spokesperson for Toyota, John Hanson, said that while he does not have a specific time frame as to how long the repairs will take, he doesn’t expect them to take much time to complete repairs.

For vehicles that are already on the road, Toyota does not believe a recall is necessary since there have been no fires or incidents reported, however it will petition the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ask that the problem be declared “inconsequential” to vehicle safety. The NHTSA is aware of the problem and is monitoring the risk, taking public comments on the proposed petition. If the petition is granted by the NHTSA, there will not be a recall of the impacted vehicles.

The timing of this issue could seemingly not come at a worse time, as much of the United States has been impacted by a record cold snap or “polar vortex” as many have referred to it. Kelley Blue Book analyst, Karl Brauer said that there is a high demand for car models with seat heaters. The company, though a leader in global car sales, is trying to regain its reputation for quality after announcing several massive recalls since 2009 for a variety of defects including braking and accelerating systems, and floor mats.
Continue reading

Playtex has issued a safety recall of 1.4 million pacifier holders over concerns that small children could choke if a part of the clip broke off.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a statement last week saying that the clips, which are used to connect a pacifier to clothing, diaper bags, and strollers, have the potential to crack and cause a small part to break off. Playtex has received 99 reports of the holder cracking or breaking, however the company has not received any reports of injuries. Playtex has recalled 1.25 million pacifier holders in the United States and 150,000 in Canada.

According to the company, the products were sold between 2010 and 2013 at major retailers including Target, Walmart, and Amazon.com. Consumers are being told to discontinue using the pacifier holders and contact Playtex Products Inc. for a refund.

Product manufacturers, like Playtex, are responsible for ensuring their products are safe for consumption and use, and do not pose a risk for serious injuries to those who use them. Currently, there are a number of different baby products on the market, however the reality is that many baby products may pose a threat to the health and wellbeing of children who come in contact with them.

When companies fail to ensure their products are safe, it becomes their responsibility should a consumer be injured. At the law offices of Altman & Altman, LLP our Boston Products Liability Attorneys have decades of experience handling all types of personal injury and products liability cases, and have a track record of achieving successful settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients.
Continue reading

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning in response to the tragic incident in which two young siblings were found unresponsive after being locked in a hope chest on Sunday evening.

According to investigators, the two children had been playing in the chest and accidently locked themselves inside and were unable to unlock it. Officials reported that the lid could only be released from the outside, not from within.

In 1996, the Lane Company issued a voluntary recall for 12 million hope chests with lids that automatically shut when closed after reports that a half dozen children had suffocated inside the chests. The company also offered customers the option of installing safety locks on cedar chests with latches.

The CPSC has since ordered customers buying new hope chests to make sure that it has a lid support that will hold the lid open at any position, or to purchase chests that do not have lids or with lightweight, removable lids, or chests with sliding doors or panels to prevent a falling lid. The CPSC has also told customers who’ve been handed down hope chests by family members to ensure the product has ventilation holes that will not be blocked if the chest is placed against the wall, when closed, and leaves a space between the lid and the sides of the chest.
Continue reading