The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·79046·Announced 1979-09-04

Corning Ware Coffee Percolators Recalled Due to Handle Separation Risk

Corning voluntarily removed Corning Ware coffee percolators from use because handles may separate, posing a burn hazard.

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 a structural defect in a consumer product that has resulted in reported injuries (approximately 1,250), meeting the criteria for a Severe rating due to significant injury reports.

Plain-English summary

Corning Glass Works and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary corrective action to remove virtually all Corning Ware coffee percolators from consumer use. The recall addresses a defect where the handle and metal band may separate without warning from the white glass-ceramic pot. This separation is caused by an epoxy sealant that can dry out and become brittle.

The hazard presents a risk of burns if the handle separates while the percolator contains hot liquid. Since 1972, Corning received approximately 7,000 separation complaints, including reports of approximately 1,250 injuries. The company has manufactured and sold approximately 18.5 million of these percolators since 1960. The issue does not affect Corning's "Pyrex" brand clear glass percolators or other Corning coffeemakers.

Consumers are advised to stop using these percolators immediately and retain them until they receive instructions from Corning. Corning is running a nationwide newspaper advertising campaign with coupons for consumers to obtain details on the incentive program. Consumers should not return the percolators to retailers or the company directly without following the program instructions.

The recalled product

Product
Corning Ware Pyrex coffee percolators

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.