Children's Riding Vehicles Recalled by Empire Industries

Children's Riding Vehicles Recalled by Empire Industries NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Originally issued August 31, 2000, Revised January 4, 2002 Release # 00-176 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic or Mark Ross, (301) 504-7058 or 1188 Note: Firm out of business. Do not use these products. Discard or destroy these products. CPSC, Empire Industries Announce Recall of Children's Riding Vehicles WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Empire Industries, of Tarboro, N.C., recalled about 113,000 battery-powered children's riding vehicles, marketed as "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L," for repair. The vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children. CPSC and Empire have received about 100 reports of chargers overheating, melting or burning. Five house fires have been reported resulting in at least $100,000 in property damage. One child and one adult received burns to hands on overheated charger jacks. The Power Driver vehicles being recalled are powered by two 6-volt batteries, and were manufactured from July 1995 to December 1996. The vehicles are made of plastic and were sold under the following model names: Go-Kart, Beach Splash, Sun Dream, Trail Tracker, Rescue Patrol, and Chevy Z-71 Pick-Up Truck. The model name "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L" appear on eac