In October 2017, Mercedes Benz implemented a massive recall of over one million vehicles worldwide because of airbag defects. This recall was not related to the worldwide Takata airbag inflator recall, but was a separate issue involving a different type of defect. Now, the company…
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published a new study warning about the safety risks associated with hoverboards. Though the toys have been in the news frequently because of battery-related fires, this new study highlights the very real risks associated with simply using them,…
Up until now, automakers that sold vehicles with Takata airbags have had to budget significant funds to cover recall repairs. As millions of vehicles were added to the list, automakers had to not only offer free replacements to consumers, but they also had to run…
In May 2016, Ethicon released an urgent field safety notice alerting hospitals, surgeons, and medical center personnel worldwide to stop using their “Physiomesh” mesh products because recurrence and revision rates after laparoscopic repair were “higher than the average rates of the comparator set of
Parents and teachers are becoming increasingly concerned with the growing popularity of the JUUL e-cigarette. A USB-shaped vaping device, the product employs a central heating unit to create a nicotine-laced vapor that users then inhale. Because it’s small and discreet, and because it delivers a…
On March 2, 2018, pharmaceutical companies Biogen and AbbVie announced the worldwide withdrawal of the drug Zinbryta (daclizumab), which is used to help treat multiple sclerosis (MS). In a related press release, the companies stated that the recall was “in the best interest of patients,”…
On February 9, 2018, a Mississippi man filed a new Medtronic MiniMed lawsuit as a representative of his deceased wife. He claims that his wife’s Medtronic MiniMed insulin pump caused serious injuries that led to her death. He seeks in excess of $75,000 in damages.…
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently alerted the public to a new recall of Kidde dual-sensor smoke alarms. About 450,000 units in the U.S. are affected by the recall, with another 40,000 in Canada. The distributor implemented the recall on March 21, 2018,…
On April 13, 2018, the FDA announced a recall of all Vuse Vibe power units—a total of about 2.6 million items—because of malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries that may overheat and present a fire hazard. Consumers are advised to stop using the units immediately and to avoid…
Earlier this year, Toyota announced they were recalling over 50,000 vehicles because of potentially defective airbags. Though the company has been heavily involved in the large Takata airbag recalls, this particular recall was implemented for different reasons. Whereas Takata air bags can explode up
There are a couple reasons why you should never put a lithium-ion battery pack or device into your checked luggage. First, it’s against the rules for most airlines, and second, because that battery may just explode in the cargo hold. That’s just what happened on…
On March 13, 2018, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of about 260,000 Amazon Portable Power Banks. The products may overheat and ignite, posing a risk of fire and burn hazards and injuries. This is yet another example of a lithium-ion…
