Solar-powered umbrellas sold exclusively at Costco have been recalled in the United States and Canada after some umbrellas caught fire and individuals suffered smoke inhalation injuries.
According to a CNN news report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued an alert urging consumers to stop using the SunVilla 10-foot Solar LED Market Umbrella immediately.
Details of the Recall
California-based SunVilla Corporation produced the umbrellas. They feature LED lights on the inside arms and a solar panel with a black cover at the top. The CPSC said the lithium-ion batteries in the umbrella’s solar panels can potentially overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.
From December 2020 through May 2022, the umbrellas were sold at Costco warehouses and online for between $130 and $160. The company recalled over 400,000 solar LED umbrellas after people reported the batteries overheating and catching on fire.
In the United States, three reports of solar panels catching fire while charging via the AC adaptor indoors and two reports of umbrellas catching fire when the solar panel puck overheated and caught fire while attached to the umbrella. One person reported a smoke inhalation injury.
According to CPSC, around 400,000 umbrellas were sold in the U.S. and around 33,000 in Canada. The CPSC, Health Canada, SunVilla, and Costco all jointly issued the recall. Customers are asked to stop using the umbrellas and remove the solar panel puck, which contains the lithium-ion battery.
Consumers are also urged to store it from the sun, away from combustible material, and not charge the puck with its AC adapter. Consumers may return the umbrellas at any Costco warehouse for a full refund.
Dangers Associated with Solar Patio Umbrellas
Products powered by lithium-ion batteries often pose a threat to safety because they tend to overheat and catch fire. If you have a solar-powered or LED umbrella that has been recalled, you should immediately stop using it. Do not continue to charge it and return the product to the retailer where you purchased it.
Product Liability Issues
Manufacturers of all products are responsible for making products safe for consumers. a defective product, including a faulty lithium-ion battery have injured you. In that case, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your losses, including medical bills, lost wages, hospitalization, and permanent injuries such as scarring or disfigurement, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
Injured victims would also be well advised to contact experienced California product defect lawyers who will fight for their rights and help them seek and obtain maximum compensation for all their losses.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/25/business/costco-solar-patio-umbrella-recall-trnd/index.html
