The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·00176·Announced 2000-08-31

CPSC Recalls Empire Industries Children's Riding Vehicles Due to Fire Hazard

CPSC and Empire Industries are recalling about 113,000 battery-powered children's riding vehicles because their chargers can overheat, posing fire and injury risks.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves significant injury and property damage reports, including five house fires and burns to a child and an adult, which meets the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Empire Industries are recalling approximately 113,000 "Power Drivers" and "Buddy L" battery-powered children's riding vehicles. These vehicles, manufactured from July 1995 to December 1996, were sold nationwide in toy stores and retail catalogs from July 1995 through December 1997 for prices ranging from $130 to $250. The recalled models include the Go-Kart, Beach Splash, Sun Dream, Trail Tracker, Rescue Patrol, and Chevy Z-71 Pick-Up Truck.

The recall is due to a hazard where the vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury risks to children. CPSC and Empire Industries have received about 100 reports of chargers overheating, melting, or burning. These incidents resulted in five house fires and at least $100,000 in property damage. Additionally, one child and one adult received burns to their hands from overheated charger jacks.

Consumers should stop using these vehicles immediately. Because Empire Industries is no longer in business, it cannot provide charger adapters or other replacement parts. Consumers are advised to discontinue use of these products and discard or destroy them. For assistance identifying if a specific model is part of the recall, consumers should call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).

The recalled product

Product
"Power Drivers" and "Buddy L" battery-powered children's riding vehicles
Manufacturer
Empire Industries, of Tarboro, N.C.
Category
Consumer Product — Children's Riding Vehicles
Hazard
Affected units
113,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · fire

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