The Recall Desk
Our severity:CriticalCPSC·04119·Announced 2004-04-14

Tonka Ride-On Toy Trucks Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Tek Nek Toys is recalling about 70,000 Tonka ride-on toy trucks because a loose screw and nut assembly poses a choking and aspiration hazard to young children.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 5/5 (Critical).

Highest-severity recall. The hazard can cause serious injury or death. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly reports the death of an 18-month-old boy, which mandates a score of 5 (Critical) according to the rubric.

Plain-English summary

Tek Nek Toys International, L.P., of Grapevine, Texas, is recalling about 70,000 Tonka ride-on toy trucks. The recall involves five model names: Butterfly Girl, Fire Rescue, Mermaid, Police Car, and Tonka Construction Crew. These toys were sold for children ages 1 to 3 years old and can be used as ride-on or push walker toys. The recalled vehicles have date codes from 20021127 to 20030319 located in the battery compartment on the top panel next to the steering wheel.

The recall is due to a defect where the screw and nut assembly attaching the steering wheel can come loose. This poses a choking and aspiration hazard to young children. Tek Nek Toys has received six reports of the screw and nut coming loose, including the death of an 18-month-old boy who aspirated a screw.

The toys were sold nationwide at Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Kmart, Meijer, and Shopko from December 2002 through March 2004 for about $30. Consumers should take these recalled ride-on toy vehicles away from young children immediately and contact Tek Nek Toys at (888) 661-0222 or visit www.teknektoys.com for free replacement parts.

The recalled product

Product
Tonka ride-on toy trucks
Manufacturer
Tek Nek Toys International, L.P., of Grapevine, Texas
Category
Consumer Product — Toys
Hazard
Affected units
70,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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