April 16, 2024
Business

Consumer Reports kit recalled for defects

WASHINGTON – Consumer Reports, the magazine that uncovers safety problems in everything from appliances to beauty products, says it’s guilty of giving consumers a potentially dangerous product.

The magazine’s publisher, Consumers Union, is recalling 15,000 glove compartment organizers sent as an incentive to new subscribers.

The kits contain a flashlight that can overheat and melt the case and a tire pressure gauge that gives inaccurate readings, which could lead people to improperly inflate their tires.

The kits were imported from China and also contained a pocketknife, pen and paper. The company did not test the kits until readers began to complain. Ten people have reported problems with the gauge or flashlight, including two who received minor burns from the flashlight.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which announced the recall Tuesday, says customers should remove the flashlight batteries and throw out the flashlight and gauge.

Consumers Union will send letters to subscribers who received the kits, along with two Consumer Reports books as a replacement gift.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like