The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·15079·Announced 2015-02-12

Kidde Recalls Disposable Plastic Fire Extinguishers Due to Discharge Failure

Kidde is recalling 4.6 million disposable fire extinguishers in the U.S. because a faulty plastic valve may prevent them from fully discharging during a fire.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (fire extinguisher failure) where injury has not yet been reported, which aligns with the 'High' severity criteria in the rubric.

Plain-English summary

Kidde is recalling approximately 4.6 million disposable fire extinguishers in the United States and 175,000 in Canada. The recall involves 31 models of Kidde disposable fire extinguishers equipped with Zytel black plastic valves. These units are red, white, or silver and are either ABC or BC rated. The affected extinguishers were manufactured between July 23, 2013, and October 15, 2014, and were sold at retailers including Home Depot, Menards, and Walmart, as well as online, from August 2013 through November 2014.

The recall is due to a faulty valve component that can cause the extinguishers to fail to fully discharge when the lever is repeatedly pressed and released. This failure poses a risk of injury during a fire emergency. Kidde has received 11 reports of the recalled fire extinguishers failing to discharge as expected, but no injuries have been reported.

Consumers should immediately contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher. They can reach Kidde toll-free at (855) 283-7991 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit www.kidde.com and click on Safety Notice for more information.

The recalled product

Product
Kidde plastic valve disposable fire extinguishers
Manufacturer
Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Company Inc., of Mebane, North Carolina
Category
Consumer Product — Fire Safety Equipment
Hazard
Affected units
175,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · fire extinguisher failure

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