Over $1 Million in Damage Prompts LG Dehumidifier Recall
After a continuing rash of damaging fires, which is said to have resulted in over one million dollars in damage to property, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reissued a former recall of approximately 98,000 of the tech giant LG’s Comfort Aire and Goldstar dehumidifiers. The units were initially recalled in December of 2009 after causing 11 accidents, four of which were serious fires.
Since the first recall, 16 more fire accidents have been reported to LG and the CPSC; nine of those fires were categorized as serious. According to the CPSC, no injuries have been reported but due to the critical nature of the warnings, both the company and the agency are worried about the public’s awareness, or lack thereof, towards the dangerous issue, as the accidents have not only continued since the recall but increased. A mere two percent of the total 98,000 users affected by the recall returned the unit for a complimentary repair, leaving 98 percent of the products unaccounted for and potentially endangering lives and properties.
The CPSC lists some of the damaged residence locations and their approximate damage amount as:
- Gibsonia, PA ($500,000);
- New Brighton, MN ($200,000);
- Hudson, MA ($183,000);
- Valparaiso, IN ($192,000);
- Salem, OH ($139,000);
- Brielle, NJ ($129,000); and
- Philadelphia, PA ($95,000).
The units were sold at many retail locations across the country, including but not limited to Do It Best, Ace Hardware, Walmart, Home Depot and Orgill Inc. between January 2007 and June 2008. The dehumidifiers were made in China. The CPSC and LG strongly implore users to stop usage at once, remove the unit’s plug from the wall and contact LG’s customer support for more information.
This recall illustrates the insidious nature of defective and dangerous products, the continuing period of time that it takes to purge the tainted product inventory and the strong need for consumer awareness and vigilance. Have you been injured by a defective or dangerous product in New York? Call 212-986-7353 for a free consultation from the New York dangerous product attorneys with Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro, LLP.
