The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·97092·Announced 1997-03-31

Pomair Professional Styler Hair Dryers Recalled for Fire and Shock Hazards

MBR Industries is recalling about 55,000 Pomair hair dryers because thermostats may malfunction, causing overheating and fire, and they lack full immersion protection against electrocution.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard with a reported incident of a dryer catching fire and a risk of electrocution due to the lack of immersion protection, which aligns with the rubric criteria for significant injury or property damage reports.

Plain-English summary

MBR Industries Inc. is recalling approximately 55,000 hand-held hair dryers sold under the name "Pomair" in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recalled units are black, burgundy, or beige plastic dryers labeled "Professional Styler by Pomair Asbestos Free" with "Model 600-53000" imprinted on the back of the handle. They were sold in independent discount, hardware, and variety stores nationwide from May 1994 through September 1996 for about $6.

The recall is due to two safety hazards. First, the dryers' thermostats could malfunction, causing the units to overheat and present a fire hazard. MBR Industries is aware of one report of a hair dryer overheating and catching fire while in use, though no injuries were reported. Second, the dryers do not have full immersion protection plugs to protect against electrocution if they fall into water. The current voluntary industry standard, effective since January 1, 1991, requires hand-held hair dryers to provide full immersion protection. The dryers in this recall have ordinary plugs rather than ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) or similar devices to prevent electric shocks.

Consumers should stop using the recalled hair dryers immediately and return them to the stores where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call MBR at (800) 325-0015. Consumers in Florida can call MBR collect at (305) 769-1000. When purchasing hair dryers, consumers are advised to look for a large, rectangular-shaped plug indicating the presence of a GFCI and a certification mark from a recognized testing laboratory.

The recalled product

Product
Pomair Professional Styler hand-held hair dryers
Manufacturer
Pomair
Category
Consumer Product — Personal Care Appliances
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · fire

See all →

Similar recalls