2-in-1 Smoke, Gas Alarm Recalled as It Does Not Detect Deadly Carbon Monoxide

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Universal Security Instruments Alarm Recall Overview:

• Who: Universal Security Instruments is recalling 8,000 of its 2-in-1 photoelectric smoke & carbon monoxide alarms.
• Why: The alarms can fail to alert consumers to the presence of a hazardous level of carbon monoxide, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or death. 
• Where: The recall is nationwide

An alarm that is meant to detect smoke and gas is being recalled because it doesn’t detect hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, which could lead to a person’s death.

Universal Security Instruments issued the recall for about 8,000 of its 2-in-1 Photoelectric Smoke & Fire + Carbon Monoxide Alarms on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website March 31.

According to the recall, the alarms can fail to alert consumers to the presence of a hazardous level of carbon monoxide, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or death. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas that can kill if inhaled.

Universal Security Instruments said it has received two reports of units that failed to alarm for the presence of carbon monoxide within the specified time requirement. No injuries have been reported so far, according to the recall.

The company is not currently facing legal action over the recall, but Top Class Actions follows recalls closely as they sometimes end in class action lawsuits.

Universal Security Providing Free Replacement Alarms

The recall involves two models and two date codes of the alarms. Model MPC322S has 10-year sealed batteries and a manufacturing date code of 2017JUN09. Model MPC122S is a hardwired alarm with 10-year sealed battery backup and a manufacturing date code of 2017JUN02. 

The brand name “Universal Security Instruments” or “USI Electric” is printed on the front of the alarms above “Photoelectric Smoke & Fire + Carbon Monoxide Alarm.” The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarms.  

The products were sold at electrical distributors nationwide and online at Walmart.com and other websites from June 2017 through December 2019 for between $50 and $80.

Consumers should immediately contact Universal Security Instruments for a free replacement alarm if they have the affected product. They should also keep using the recalled alarms until they install replacement alarms, the recall said.

Last year, about 226,000 Kidde TruSense Smoke Alarms and combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms were recalled because they can fail to set off an alert when there’s a fire.

In 2015, a proposed class action lawsuit accusing First Alert Inc. of selling smoke alarms that were defective and that were misleadingly packaged was dismissed with the judge ruling the plaintiff had not adequately plead her case.

Have you been affected by a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm recall? Let us know your experience in the comments!

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