Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the U.S. more than $1 trillion annually. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the federal agency that has jurisdiction over thousands of different types of consumer products used in and around the home, in sports, recreation, and schools. The CPSC protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with consumer products and has the ability to issue recalls when products pose a fire, electrical, chemical, mechanical, or another hazard to the public.
Learn the answers to common questions about product recalls by clicking the links below.
Does the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have injury data on consumer products?
Yes. CPSC provides product-related injury statistics on its Research and Reports website. Look for the "Injury Statistics and Technical Reports by Product Category" section with links.
How can I find out which products have been recalled?
Here are some easy ways to find out about new product recalls.
- Check the CPSC website. Go to the "Recalls" section, where the agency posts information about new recalls.
- You can also run a search on the CPSC website. Try entering the product type, description, or company.
- You may subscribe to CPSC email alerts.
- Follow CPSC @USCPSC on Twitter. (CPSC posts the majority of recalls on Twitter when posting them online.)
If a product I own is recalled, should I stop using it?
Usually, yes. Follow the specific guidance in CPSC's recall announcement for that product. You'll probably be eligible to get a replacement, repair, or refund.
Can I get my money back if a product I own is recalled?
No, not necessarily. You might get a replacement, repair, or refund. Each recall announcement describes the remedy for a particular recalled product.
If a product that a particular company makes is recalled, does that mean the company's other products are also unsafe?
No, not necessarily. Each recall that CPSC announces applies only to the specific brand and model identified in that particular recall announcement. In many cases, the recall applies to products manufactured and date-coded for a limited time period—like a certain brand, specific model, that was, for example, manufactured between September 1, 2021 and October 17, 2021. CPSC's recall announcements contain details for each recall.
If a consumer product injures someone in my family, or if I think a product is unsafe, can I report it to CPSC?
Yes. You may report an unsafe product by:
- going online and filing a complaint at SaferProducts.gov
- calling 800-638-2772, or
- filling out and mailing a form in English or Spanish to: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Attn: Reports, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.
What if a product is recalled, but I don't find out about it until later (like a week, a month, or a year or more afterward). How long are recalls in effect?
Product recalls usually don't have an end date. If you don't find out about a recall for a year or more, follow the instructions in the recall notice the CPSC issued. Call the company at the toll-free number given in CPSC's news release announcing the recall to find out about the remedy. If you're unsuccessful with the company, contact CPSC's toll-free hotline (800-638-2772) or send an email through CPSC's Contact Form.
If I report an unsafe product, what will happen?
First, you'll get an email or letter from CPSC shortly after it receives your report. The message will describe how CPSC will use the information you sent and will request you to review the report and confirm its accuracy. You may then make corrections or provide additional information.
Second, if you've identified a manufacturer in your complaint, the CPSC will send it to the manufacturer. If you've told CPSC that it may include your name and contact information in what it sends to the manufacturer, you might get a response directly from the company.
Third, CPSC might or might not investigate your report. The CPSC gets thousands of reports of product-related injuries and deaths each year from consumers and others, but the agency doesn't investigate them all. If the CPSC decides to investigate the product you've reported, an investigator will contact you, though this might not happen until a while after you report the issue. If based on the investigation, CPSC decides some recall or other action is required, it will issue a news release.
Whether or not CPSC conducts an investigation of your product complaint, the information in the report—and in all of the product complaints it receives—is valuable. This information becomes part of the CPSC database, which the agency uses to identify patterns of injuries and hazards associated with particular products. The CPSC can then use a wide range of tools to deal with potentially unsafe products, like:
- setting voluntary standards
- providing consumer education
- setting safety guidelines
- arranging product recalls with manufacturers, and
- issuing mandatory rules.
Can I get information on reports other people filed with CPSC?
Yes. You can get information about reports filed against products that have not been recalled at the SaferProducts.gov website.