Fisher-Price Recall: 10M Trikes, High Chairs and Toys Are Dangerous

More than 10 million Fisher-Price toys are being recalled in the United States and Canada due to a variety of safety issues, including tricycles that resulted in at least six children requiring medical attention. 

The massive Fisher-Price recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday and includes tricycles, Little People play sets, high chairs and inflatable balls that were included in a number of baby play pens and games. More than a dozen children have been injured by both the recalled tricycles and high chairs.

The tricycle recall affects more than 7 million Fisher Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, with about 150,000 of those sold in Canada. The rest were sold in the U.S. According to the CPSC tricycle recall announcement there is a protruding plastic ignition key that a child can fall or sit on that could cause serious injury, including genital bleeding. The CPSC and the company are aware of 10 injuries connected to the tricycles. In six of those cases, young girls ages two to three required medical attention after falling onto the toy key.

The recalled tricycles include trikes sold under the Hot Wheels, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego Go! and Kawasaki labels. A complete list of tricycles affected by the recall is located in the CPSC recall announcement. The tricycles were sold at mass merchandise stores nationwide from January 1997 through September 2010 for about $25. The CPSC recommends they be taken away from children until a replacement key can be obtained.

The other products being recalled include the Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs. About 950,000 of the chairs sold in the U.S., and 125,000 sold in Canada are affected by the recall. The CPSC reports that children can fall against the pegs on the rear legs of the high chair, resulting in lacerations and injuries. The CPSC and Fisher-Price report that at least seven children have required stitches and one suffered a tooth injury. There have been 14 incident reports in all.

The recall involves all Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs, and Healthy Care High Chairs made after December 2006. A complete list of affected model numbers is located in the CPSC high chair recall announcement. The high chairs were sold at mass merchandise retail stores nationwide from September 2001 through September 2010 for between about $70 and $115. The CPSC recommends parents stop using the chairs and contact Fisher-Price for instructions and a free repair kit.

Also being recalled are about 2.8 million Fisher-Price infant toys sold in the U.S., and about 125,000 sold in Canada, that include inflatable balls. The valve on the balls can come off of the toys and become a choking hazard for small children. There have been 54 incident reports of the valves coming off. In 14 cases they were found in children’s mouths and in three cases the child had begun to choke when they were discovered. There have been no injuries reported.

The recall affects the Baby Playzone Crawl and Cruise Playground, the Baby Playzone Crawl and Slide Arcade, the Baby Gymnastics Play Wall, the Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl Aquarium, 1-2-3- Tetherball and the Bat & Score Goal. Product numbers, prices and other information is available in the CPSC Fisher-Price inflatable ball recall announcement. Consumers should remove the balls and keep them away from children. They can contact Fisher-Price for a free replacement kit.

The massive toy recall also includes about 100,000 Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand ‘n’ Play Rampways sold in the U.S., and 20,000 sold in Canada. According to the CPSC play set recall announcement, the wheels on some of the cars can come off and pose a choking hazard to children. Fisher-Price received two reports of the wheels detaching, but there have been no reports of injuries.

The recall affects Little People Wheelies Stand ‘n’ Play Rampways with the model numbers T4261 and V6378. The recall only applies to the purple and green cars that were included in the set marked “Mexico” that do not have a yellow dot on the bottom. The toys were sold at mass merchandise stores nationwide from April 2010 through September 2010 for about $45. Consumers should take the cars away from children immediately and contact Fisher-Price for free replacements.

For information on how to obtain replacement toys and repair kits, consumers should go to www.service.mattel.com.