# 40 Million Kidde Fire Extinguishers Sold over Last 40 Years Recalled Safety Defect; Free Replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620 "2017-11-03T19:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/1 "2017-11-03T19:51:24Z")
> [@](#): > > More than 40 million fire extinguishers sold over a four-decade period have been recalled because they may not work to put out fires, according to an announcement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Two types of Kidde fire extinguishers are being recalled, those with those with plastic handles, and those with a push-button on top. The extinguishers, sold by Kidde, can become clogged or “require excessive force to discharge,” and fail to work during a fire emergency, the CPSC said. In addition, the nozzles on some of the extinguishers can detach with enough force to potentially injure someone. > > So far, the CPSC has received nearly 400 reports of cases in which the recalled fire extinguishers failed to work properly. These included 91 reports of property damage, 16 reports of injuries (such as smoke inhalation and minor burns) and one death… > > Customers with the recalled fire extinguishers should contact Kidde to request a free replacement extinguisher. More information is available on Kidde’s website. > [Kidde Fire Safety Products and Education | Kidde](http://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/) > **[More Than 40 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard](https://www.livescience.com/60856-fire-extinguisher-recall.html)** > > More than 40 million fire extinguishers sold over a 4-decade period have been recalled because they may not work to put out fires. I checked and the list included the one I bought from Walmart 3 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/2 "2017-11-03T20:00:11Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [More Than 40 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard | Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/60856-fire-extinguisher-recall.html) > > I checked and the list included the one I bought from Walmart 3 years ago. There are a large number of different brands and models involved, listed at the CPSC website, but what they all have in common is plastic handles and basically all-plastic operational components at the top. Some safety companies that do recharging flat-out refuse to refill those. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/3 "2017-11-03T21:24:20Z")
This is why I have a grown-up fire extinguisher. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/4 "2017-11-03T21:31:13Z")
Saw it on the news yesterday; called them & a replacement is already on the way to me. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/5 "2017-11-03T22:18:20Z")
It looks like the fire extinguisher in my hallway of my condo is on the recall list . I really doubt that any trustees or manger office will look into this and take care of this . I hate having to always be the person to call the manger b/c I have a hard time on the phone. My daughter said I should call the fire department and see if they would call the manger’s office . ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/6 "2017-11-03T22:46:19Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > It looks like the fire extinguisher in my hallway of my condo is on the recall list . I really doubt that any trustees or manger office will look into this and take care of this . I hate having to always be the person to call the manger > b/c I have a hard time on the phone. My daughter said I should call the fire department and see if they would call the manger’s office . Why not just fill in the form yourself? It won’t take as long as dealing with the fire department or manager. There are instructions on how to find the model number, the date code and the serial number on the website. > [@wolfpup](#): > > There are a large number of different brands and models involved, listed at the CPSC website, but what they all have in common is plastic handles and basically all-plastic operational components at the top. Some safety companies that do recharging flat-out refuse to refill those. In the old days they used to use metal. So this is the classic situation of being “penny wise and pound foolish” as the plastic probably only saved them a few cents each while the 40 million fire extinguishers and shipping is going to cost very serious money. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/7 "2017-11-03T23:00:55Z")
Thank you very much. This is the first I’m see this and I may not have come across it. Yep mine is a shitty one with a plastic top. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/8 "2017-11-03T23:23:45Z")
40-effin-million of them? Who’s going to eat the cost of that? Do they have some kind of “recall insurance” to cover it? Look what happened to that company that made all those defective airbags that got recalled. Didn’t I see somewhere that they filed for bankruptcy? Who pays for replacement airbags or fire extinguishers after that happens? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/9 "2017-11-03T23:25:55Z")
A quick check, and all of ours are First Alert. Whew! ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/10 "2017-11-04T00:11:45Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Why not just fill in the form yourself? It won’t take as long as dealing with the fire department or manager. There are instructions on how to find the model number, the date code and the serial number on the website. > > In the old days they used to use metal. So this is the classic situation of being “penny wise and pound foolish” as the plastic probably only saved them a few cents each while the 40 million fire extinguishers and shipping is going to cost very serious money. The fire extinguisher is owned by the condo association and was just inspected before the recall came out and has a dated tag of it from the fire department . I am hoping at least one trustless or manger is aware of the recall and will follow through with it. There are at least 15 fire extinguishers in all the buildings at my condo and each one will need to checked to see if it on the recall list . My condo manager needs to do the all paper work , this is what they get paid to do. I am hoping I will run into a trustee this weekend to talk to. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/11 "2017-11-04T00:32:28Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > The fire extinguisher is owned by the condo association and was just inspected before the recall came out and has a dated tag of it from the fire department . I am hoping at least one trustless or manger is aware of the recall and will follow through with it. There are at least 15 fire extinguishers in all the buildings at my condo and each one will need to checked to see if it on the recall list . My > condo manager needs to do the all paper work , this is what they get paid to do. I am hoping I will run into a trustee this weekend to talk to. Maybe you can get your daughter to light a fire under the relevant management? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/12 "2017-11-04T00:32:29Z")
40 million? You’ve got to be kiddeing. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/13 "2017-11-04T01:45:49Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > A quick check, and all of ours are First Alert. Whew! You’re probably okay w/ First Alert, but Kidde made them for others. I’d recommend everyone check out the [website](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/kidde-recalls-fire-extinguishers-with-plastic-handles-due-to-failure-to-discharge-and) & make sure yours is not on the list. The ironic part is they’ve just recently started a marketing campaign about how good/safe their products are. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/14 "2017-11-04T03:09:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > A quick check, and all of ours are First Alert. Whew! I’m of the opposite mind. I want me some new toys! > [@Spiderman](#): > > You’re probably okay w/ First Alert, but Kidde made them for others. I’d recommend everyone check out the [website](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/kidde-recalls-fire-extinguishers-with-plastic-handles-due-to-failure-to-discharge-and) & make sure yours is not on the list. I’ve been trying all day to get those lists to load. No dice. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/15 "2017-11-04T09:09:50Z")
I’ve got one that’s discharged and I’ve been too lazy to find a source to do it. I’ll have to check the brand tomorrow, but I kind of hope they can replace it to help me be lazy. It looks like the one on the left maybe; I didn’t even know that push buttons were a thing. > [@Senegoid](#): > > Look what happened to that company that made all those defective airbags that got recalled. Didn’t I see somewhere that they filed for bankruptcy? Who pays for replacement airbags or fire extinguishers after that happens? Takata. Bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is dissolved. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/16 "2017-11-04T09:19:55Z")
Okay, I went outside and grabbed it. I have 3 extinguishers, 2 Kidde and 1 First Alert. Guess which one is discharged :smack: As far as I can tell, there are no First Alerts on the list? FA model numbers are just coincidentally Kidde I believe? ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/17 "2017-11-04T13:44:36Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > [More Than 40 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard | Live Science](https://www.livescience.com/60856-fire-extinguisher-recall.html) > > I checked and the list included the one I bought from Walmart 3 years ago. Thank you for this info. I have two Kidde extinguishers and one is affected. I did call the number shown in your link and a new one will be sent in about 15-20 business days. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/18 "2017-11-04T16:05:07Z")
Just check 2 of mine, one from 1986 and the other from 1993. Both were on the list and are going to be replaced. The older extinguisher spent 3 years in various race cars and has been hanging in a number of garages since. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/19 "2017-11-04T16:52:21Z")
Have two extinguishers in my apartment, both Kidde. One is on the list and one isn’t. Unfortunately, they won’t ship to PO boxes and there are too many porch pirates in my area to deliver to my street address. I left a message with the landlord about having replacements shipped to his home address for distribution to his various tenants. In an emergency I’d still have a go at using one on the recall list - my understanding is that some of them jam/fail but not all. In the past, we’ve used two of those models to put out fires and both worked effectively. And then there was the one my spouse wasted by “test firing” without realizing it was a one-shot use type and couldn’t be refilled/recharged. :rolleyes: So I gather _most_ will work but you don’t want to be the unlucky “not most” during an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620/20 "2017-11-04T17:16:20Z")
I have three of the plastic handle units, but none of them appear to be on the list. A couple of the model numbers match up, but the year stamp is too early. I wonder what the odds are of having three and none matching? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-million-kidde-fire-extinguishers-sold-over-last-40-years-recalled-safety-defect-free-replacement/800620.md?page=2)