The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·96066·Announced 1996-02-14

W.C. Wood Recalls 345,775 Chest Freezers Due to Entrapment Risk

W.C. Wood is recalling 345,775 chest freezers because the lock mechanism can be forced open without a key, posing a risk of child entrapment.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

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 (child entrapment) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for products with potential for serious injury but no confirmed injuries.

Plain-English summary

W.C. Wood Company Inc. is voluntarily recalling 345,775 chest freezers in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recall involves freezers sold under the Woods, Quickfrez, Danby, Crosley, Whirlpool, Roper, and Estate brands. The hazard exists because the freezer's lock mechanism can be forced open without a key. If a child opens the freezer and climbs or falls inside, the lock could re-latch, trapping the child.

The freezers were sold nationwide from January 1991 through February 1996 in five sizes: 7, 10, 12, 15, and 22 cubic feet. They are white or almond in color and were sold for retail prices ranging from $199 to $549. W.C. Wood is aware of five reports of incidents where children opened locked freezers without a key, including one report of a child who allegedly became trapped but was found and released by an adult. The company is not aware of any injuries involving these freezers.

Consumers with Whirlpool, Roper, or Estate brand freezers should contact Whirlpool Corp. toll-free at (866) 580-9177 to determine if their unit is affected. Whirlpool will send a free modification kit to consumers with these specific brands. Until the lock is modified, consumers should unlock the lid and place the key in a child-safe location. There is no remedy for unrepaired Wood's, Quickfrez, Danby, and Crosley freezers; consumers should disable and destroy these units.

The recalled product

Product
Crosley chest freezers
Manufacturer
W.C. Wood
Category
Consumer Product — Appliances
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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