How Often Are Products Recalled Because they are Dangerous?

February 15, 2024 | Product Liability

At Oliver Law Office, our Columbus personal injury law firm founder and managing attorney, Jami S. Oliver, has been named to the Best Lawyers 2024 list in multiple practice areas and voted 2024 Lawyer of the Year in Columbus, Ohio, for Product Liability. This makes defective products one of our main practice areas.

Our fellow Ohio residents are often surprised to learn how often dangerous and defective products make their way to the market for consumer use. Unfortunately, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a government agency that oversees the products that consumers use daily, including toys, electronics, exercise equipment, and bike helmets, recalls up to 400 products yearly.

Other government agencies oversee other recalls. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversee food recalls. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) oversees vehicle-related recalls.

We understand that dangerous and defective consumer products, medications, medical devices, and vehicle-related products are frequently connected to harmful incidents. Yet, months often pass before the government announces a recall.

Why Does It Take So Long to Recall a Dangerous Product?

The CPSC begins investigating products after companies or consumers report issues. Companies are required to report problems to the agency. The compliance staff then reviews what the company reported and decides whether a recall is necessary.

Around half of the reports result in a recall. Most recalls are voluntary, and the company works with regulators on how to inform consumers.

But even pulling products from the shelves does not mean they are out of consumers’ hands. The CPSC noted that most recalls have a 65% effective rate, meaning 35% of products are not returned or fixed.

Key findings in a U.S. PIRG Education Fund report show that products are frequently connected to severe incidents, yet it takes too long for the company and government to announce a recall.

“The facts are chilling,” said a PIRG spokesperson. “Time after time, you read these complaints about scary events, injuries, and even deaths. Sometimes, a dangerous product takes months or years to get recalled. In other cases, consumers get injured by a product recalled long ago, but they may not have heard about the recall.”

For example, Generac Power Systems of Wisconsin renewed its recall of 321,160 portable generators 16 months after the initial recall after people continued to report finger amputations.

Dangerous products like these are leading to life-changing injuries and fatalities, at no fault of the consumer. If you or someone you love has been injured or lost their life because of a dangerous consumer product, medication, or medical device, allow our skilled team, led by one of Ohio’s best, to help you make informed decisions about your case and future, starting with a free consultation.

Contact Our Attorney at Oliver Law Office Today

Oliver Law Office is a client-focused law firm emphasizing each client’s individualized needs with personalized attention. We handle every case with confidence, courage, and determination. Please call us at (614)-220-9100 or fill out a Contact Us form so we can be in touch as soon as possible – let’s get started on your claim today.