CURRENT RECALLS

SUAVE RECALLS 11,000 KIDS BATH SETS

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2006
Release #06-267

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 628-5687
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Suave Kids Bath Sets Sold at Wal-Mart Recalled for Choking, Other Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Suave Kids Bath Set
Units: About 11,000
Manufacturer: Almar Sales Co., of New York, NY
Hazard: Items in the baths sets contain small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children. Additionally, some of the handles on the carrying case are long enough to pose a strangulation hazard. Also, the plastic carrying case poses a danger of suffocation.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries or incidents have been reported.

Description: This recall involves "Suave" brand bath sets that contain a 3-in-1 shampoo, bath sponge, and various other toy animal and character bath products. The baths sets are packaged in brightly colored vinyl bags with a clear window. Style numbers involved in this recall are: SVK 9498, 9499, 9501, 9506, 9507 and 9508. The style numbers are located on the back and/or bottom right corner of the package, above the UPC code.

Sold at: Wal-Mart stores nationwide from March 2006 through June 2006 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these bath sets and either dispose of them or return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Almar Sales at (800) 251-2522 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or e-mail the firm at recall@almarsales.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06267.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.

Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

GM RECALLING 800,000 PICKUPS AND SUVS

General Motors Corp. is recalling about 800,000 sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks in 14 northern states because corrosion was affecting the antilock brake system, leading to more than 200 low-speed crashes. The recall involved the 1999-2002 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL. In late April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation of more than 1.2 million GM pickups and SUVs in 20 states because of questions over the antilock brakes. That investigation is still pending. Salt corrosion and road grime can wedge its way into a plastic piece that covers the ABS sensor near the wheel hub, according to information received from General Motors.

The corrosion leads the sensors to activate the ABS system at speeds of about 4 mph to about 11 mph, requiring a longer stopping distance. The ABS system is generally started at speeds of 15 to 20 mph. According to GM, there have been 228 crashes reported through the end of May, including 10 minor injuries. The recall involves less than 20% of the vehicles built during the four model years. The states include: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.

HYUNDAI RECALLS ELANTRA OVER AIRBAG SYSTEM

Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling 240,000 Elantra sedans because the computer that operates the airbag system could confuse a child seat for an adult in the front passenger seat. The recall involves vehicles from the 2004-2005 model years. The Elantra is the automaker's most popular-selling vehicle in the United States. An evaluation conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that a child seat in the front passenger seat could be misclassified by the airbag sensor system as an adult passenger.

Hyundai says it could only happen if a child seat was installed after an adult had been in the passenger seat and then the ignition was turned off. Under that scenario, when the vehicle was turned back on, the system's memory would misinterpret the child seat as an adult passenger. According to the company, it could lead to the deployment of the front airbag and side-impact airbag in a crash. Normally, those airbags would not deploy if the system properly identified a child restraint seat because the impact of the bags could injure a child.

Owners are expected to be notified by mail in October. Dealers will fix the problem by reprogramming the computer system. The Elantra starts at $13,299, according to the automaker's website. Hyundai issued a separate recall in August of about 36,000 2006 Sonata sedans because of problems with the driver's seat belt getting caught up with a knob used to recline the front seat.

TOYOTA RECALLS VEHICLES

Toyota Motor Corp. has recalled 978,000 sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks over complaints that a rod linking the steering wheel and the wheels could fracture when the steering wheel is turned while the vehicle is stopped. The affected vehicles include the 1990-1995 4Runner SUV, 1989-1995 truck 4WD, and 1993-1998 T-100 pickup. The Toyota recall, which began in mid-September, was based on seven confirmed cases of the power steering problem in T100 vehicles. Thus far, no crashes have been tied to the issue. Interestingly, Toyota's U.S. sales were up 11.4% in the first eight months of this year, compared with an average increase of 3.5% for the Big Three. Car sales made up most of that increase. Sales of light trucks, including the 4Runner, were up only 2%.

CHRYSLER RECALLING JEEP GRAND CHEROKEES

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is recalling more than 100,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicles because water contamination of the transmission fluid could lead to fires under the hood. The recall involves 2005 model year vehicles with 3.7 liter engines and automatic transmissions. This involves about 45% of all Jeep Grand Cherokees sold from that year. Condensed water from the air conditioning system could drip down into the case that holds the transmission fluid, contaminating the fluid and leading to a shaking in the transmission. The automaker says this can happen only in a small number of vehicles.

If owners fail to address the shaking, the transmission would operate at higher temperatures and could boil the water in the transmission fluid and eject some of the fluid. The fluid could come into contact with a hot part of the exhaust system and cause an engine fire, he said. The automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it has received four reports of fires in the vehicles from Dollar Rent A Car. Two of the fires happened in Hawaii and the other two took place in California and Washington state.

According to the company, less than 1% of the vehicle's owners have filed warranty claims citing the problem. In its filing with NHTSA, DaimlerChrysler estimated that less than 5% had the potential problem. All owners will be notified of the recall during this month. Motorists should have their vehicles inspected by a dealer.

1.5 MILLION FOOD PROCESSORS RECALLED

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that about 1.5 million Ultimate Chopper food processors are being recalled because they pose risks of injury, including amputation. A malfunction of the appliance allows it to operate without its lid. Ultimate Chopper LLC and the CPSC have received 17 reports of injury, including five requiring stitches or surgery. The Ultimate Chopper is a compact, single-speed food processor that can also function as a blender when an optional attachment is used with the base. The recalled product has been marketed and distributed through television infomercial sales, the company's website, and various retailers nationwide. The food processors were sold from March 2002 through July for about $40. Consumers should inspect their Ultimate Chopper food processor to determine whether the interlocking lid is functioning properly. Consumers should remove the lid and blade assembly and test to see whether the unit will operate without the lid on. If the unit turns on when the lid is removed, consumers should stop using it and contact Ultimate Chopper LLC to receive a free replacement unit. Consumers can call the company at (800) 819-6297 or visit its website, www.ultimatechopper.com, for more recall information.