Recall Round-Up: March 9, 2018
Every week we scour the internet and bring you the latest information on product and automotive recalls in this recurring series: Recall Round-Up.
This week we have a few recall announcements and one legal victory that helps protect consumers when purchasing used cars with an open recall.
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Bacitraycin Plus Ointment
First Aid Research announced a recall of 500,000 units of their Bacitraycin Plus Ointment with Lidocaine. The ointment packaging is not child resistant and poses a risk of poisoning if ingested. The units were sold at many grocery and pharmacy stores including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Rite Aid and Walgreens. Customers should place the item out of a child’d reach and contact First Aid Research for information on a refund.
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InSinkErator SinkTop Switch
InSinkErator recently recalled nearly 1.5MM units of their Single Outlet SinkTop switches due to a fire hazard. The switch is mounted on the sinktop instead of the tradition wall switch. Water can then get into the power module which increases the risk of a fire. Wall switch models are not included in teh recall. The manufacturer received 40 reports of water causing the power module to overheat before beginning an investigation that led to the recall. Consumers should visit InSinkErator online for more information.
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CarMax Open Recall Legal Battle
CarMax continues a legal battle over a requirement to fix open recalls for any used vehicle they sell. The retailer is the largest seller of used cars in the United States and the Center for Auto Safety recently completed a report stating that 1 in 4 vehicles at 8 CarMax dealerships had open/unfixed recalls. A California resident has filed a claim against CarMax who sold her a 2008 Hyundai Elantra with an unfixed open recall and was therefore in violation of the implied warranty and unfit for sale. This week a three judge panel in the 5th district Court of Appeals in Fresco found ruled in favor of the plaintiff, allowing her case to continue against CarMax. This slow effort is one followed closely as CarMax was ordered in 2016 by the FTC that they must disclose any open recalls to purchaser prior to the sale of the vehicle. Safety advocates believe this is not enough.
If you’ve been injured as a result of a recalled product, please contact us today. We also encourage anyone to visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites to file formal complaints about potential safety hazards.