Top recalls for the week of April 15 include Walmart mini choppers, heart pump instructions

Yoto, Ford, Toyota, Black+Decker recalls overview:

• Who: Yoto, Ford, Toyota, and Black+Decker recalled products last week. 
• Why: The top recalls involve product safety and possible risk of harm. 
• Where: The recalls are effective in the United States; the Yoto recall is also effective in Canada, and the Toyota recall is also effective in Japan, Europe, and Asia. 

Several popular companies, retailers and manufacturers announced recalls last week for products that may pose a risk of injury to consumers. Here are Top Class Actions’ top recalls for the week of April 15.

Yoto mini speakers recall announced due to fire, burn risk

Yoto initiated a recall of its Yoto Mini speakers, owing to potential risks associated with their lithium-ion batteries, which may lead to overheating and pose a fire hazard, thereby increasing the risk of burns. This recall, affecting a total of 251,165 units in the United States and 18,932 in Canada, encompasses portable, screen-free speakers tailored for children aged 3 to 12. These speakers, operated via Yoto cards, are designed to provide access to audiobooks, music, radio, and podcasts, promoting an enriching audio experience for young users.

Identifiable by their pale gray hue with orange tactile controls and a pixel display, the Yoto Mini speakers bear the model name Yoto Mini, SKU PRPLXX00860, and a unique serial number located on the speaker base. Despite the recall, Yoto assures customers that, to date, there have been no reported injuries associated with the seven instances of overheating or melting, with six occurrences reported in the U.S. and one in the United Kingdom.

Customers are urged to cease using the speakers immediately, remove them from children’s reach, and contact Yoto to arrange for a complimentary replacement charging cable. To facilitate this process, customers must provide a photograph of the old cable cut through the middle. Yoto can be contacted via phone at 844-370-0426 during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or through email at minihelp@yotoplay.com, and assistance is also available online. This proactive measure aligns with Yoto’s commitment to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its customers, mitigating potential risks associated with the product.

Ford recalls announced over Bronco fuel injector defect and Bronco and Maverick powertrain defect

Ford Motor Company issued two separate recalls affecting over 40,000 vehicles and 450,000 vehicles respectively, highlighting potential safety concerns. The first recall involves a total of 42,642 of the manufacturer’s 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape vehicles due to a fuel injector issue, which poses a fire hazard. 

Ford reported this defect to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in March, emphasizing the risk of a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine components, which could lead to fires. This recall extends a previous one from 2022 affecting over 520,000 vehicles for the same reason. Owners of affected vehicles will receive recall notices in April 2024, and dealers will update the engine control software to include leak detection and install a drain tube to address the issue.

In addition to the fuel injector problem, Ford has initiated a separate recall impacting more than 450,000 Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Maverick vehicles. This recall, concerning the body and powertrain control modules, affects a total of 402,978 Bronco Sport vehicles from model years 2021-2024 and 53,587 Maverick vehicles from model years 2022-2023. 

Ford expressed concerns that the modules might fail to detect changes in the 12-volt battery’s state of charge, potentially resulting in a loss of electrical accessories or drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. To remedy this issue, Ford plans to have its dealers recalibrate the modules on the affected vehicles free of charge and will send out recall notification letters to owners starting on May 13, 2024. Owners with questions about either recall can contact Ford directly for assistance.

Toyota recall issued for rear door latches in Prius vehicles

Toyota issued a recall affecting 211,000 2023-2024 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles due to a rear door latch issue that poses a safety concern. The recall stems from the potential for water intrusion into the electronic rear door latches, leading to malfunctions that could result in the doors opening while the vehicle is in motion, posing a risk of injury.

To address this issue, Toyota advises Prius owners to ensure their vehicles are set to automatically lock the doors when shifted from park until the problem is resolved. Toyota dealers will replace both right and left rear door opener switches with improved ones at no cost to the owners as part of the recall process. 

Customers affected by the recall can expect to be contacted by Toyota in early June, and they can also reach out to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331 for further assistance. 

Black+Decker recall on garment steamer expands to include 1.6M more units

Empower Brands, the parent company of Black+Decker, initiated a recall of approximately 518,500 Easy Garment Steamer products following numerous reports of consumers sustaining burns while using the device. 

The recall, announced on Nov. 3 via the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, specifically targets the Black+Decker model HGS011 Easy Garment Steamers. Concerns arose as these steamers have been observed to expel, spray, or leak hot water during operation, posing a significant burn hazard to users.

Empower Brands has received 241 reports of incidents involving hot water expulsion from the steamers, resulting in 32 reported cases of burn injuries, including two instances of second-degree burns. Consumers are urged to immediately discontinue the use of the recalled Black+Decker Model HGS011 Easy Garment Steamers and to reach out to Empower Brands to arrange for a free replacement upper assembly to mitigate the associated risks.

Have you purchased any of the products listed in our top recalls recently? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to check out other top recalls.

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