Go-Karts Recalled by 6 Manufacturers

Description

Go-Karts Recalled by 6 Manufacturers NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 Note: Two of the participating firms are out of business; new phone number for one firm. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ken Giles Originally issued May 6, 1997, Last Revised January 5, 2007 (301) 504-7052 Release # 97-118 CPSC Announces Recall of Additional Go-Karts WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), six go-kart manufacturers are recalling for repair over 122,000 go-karts with exposed rear axles. Riders can be seriously injured or killed if their long hair or clothing becomes entangled in the rotating rear axle. Since July 1996, CPSC and two manufacturers have announced recalls for repair of about 305,000 go-karts with this entanglement hazard. The manufacturers participating in this recall have identified other go-karts with this same hazard. Since July 1996, CPSC has received reports of one child who died and two children who were seriously injured in go-karts. The go-karts involved in these incidents were recalled by another manufacturer last year. CPSC has also received one report in which an adult alleges that she was seriously injured when her hair became entangled in the rotating rear axle of a T&D Metal Products go-kart. The one- and two-seat go-karts are powered by gasoline engines. All go-karts with an exposed rear axle are involved in this repair program. To determine whether the rear axle is exposed, consumers should stand behind the go-kart, with the engine off, and push the go-kart by hand. If consumers can see the axle connecting the two rear wheels rotating, the go-kart is subject to this repair program. The manufacturers listed below are participating in this repair program to improve the safety of these go-karts. Manufacturer Brand Labels Model and Serial Numbers Quantity Avenger Inc. 400 Horseshoe Lake Rd. Monroe, LA 71203 Firm out of business Yellow Jacket Model Number: SST 83 Bob's Kart Shop Route 2, Box 30 Sheridan, IL 60551 Collect (815) 496-2820 Grasshoper, T.C. Go-Fur, and Ground Hawg 7,000 Kartco Inc. P.O. Box 110 Sebastopol, MS 39359 (800) 621-2789 Kartco and Roadboss Model Number: 445 750 Ken-Bar Mfg. P.O. Box 569 Cornelia, GA (800) 241-3557 Streaker, Sand Dog, Salute to America, Scorpion, and Mud Hog Model Numbers: DD7, DD8, D680, D710, D720, D780, D790, D810, D840, S465, SC7, STA8, STA9, and SD11 Serial Numbers: 001 to 100000 75,000 Minat Inc. 115 East Front St. Annawan, IL 61234 Firm out of business U.S. Eagle Series Model Numbers: Eagle I and Eagle II 200 T&D Metal Products P.O. Box 73 Watseka, IL 60970 (888) 527-7787 Klipper Karts, ProKart, Pathwinder, Kool Kart Campout, and Bird Mfg Serial Numbers: EM001 to EM029 and 0030 to 39126 39,000 Outdoor power equipment, specialty, lawn and garden, hardware, furniture, motorcycle, and department stores, as well as Harbor Freight mail order catalogue, sold these go-karts nationwide from August 1976 through March 1997 for about $500 to $2,500. Consumers should stop using these go-karts immediately and contact the appropriate manufacturer to receive a free axle guard kit with instructions for easy installation. If the manufacturer is out of business or if consumers are not sure of the go-kart manufacturer or have questions about this recall, they should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.