The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·98158·Announced 1998-08-27

AIWA Recalls Mini Home Audio Systems Due to Fire Hazard

AIWA America is recalling about 200,000 mini home audio systems because a faulty transistor can cause smoking and fire. No injuries were reported.

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 3 reported instances of units catching fire, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or high-risk fire hazards, warranting a Severe (4) classification.

Plain-English summary

AIWA America Inc. is voluntarily recalling approximately 200,000 mini home audio systems in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The affected units, model number CX-NA303U, contain a faulty transistor that can cause the unit to smoke, presenting a fire hazard. Approximately 108,000 units remain with consumers.

The systems are silver and include a combination radio, tape, and CD player with speakers featuring black cloth grills. They were sold at electronics, department, and discount stores nationwide from March 1998 through July 1998 for about $200 to $250. CPSC and AIWA America have received 100 reports of units smoking or emitting a burning odor and 3 reports of units catching on fire. No injuries were reported.

Consumers should stop using the systems immediately and call AIWA America toll-free at (888) 619-9353 for instructions on returning the systems for free repair. Alternatively, consumers can write to AIWA America Inc. at 800 Corporate Dr., Mahwah NJ 07430. AIWA America will make all necessary repairs and return the systems with a complimentary headphone stereo. Units not involved in this recall can be identified by a red and white "A" on the back of the unit.

The recalled product

Product
AIWA mini home audio systems
Manufacturer
AIWA America
Category
Consumer Product — Home Audio
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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