PlainRecalls

Propane Cylinders Recalled by R4 Technical Center

Reported: August 30, 2000 Initiated: August 30, 2000 #00173

R4 Technical Center issued this CPSC recall on August 30, 2000. Classified as Moderate severity. The recall was issued because: Fire & Fire-Related Burn. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #00173) was formally reported on August 30, 2000. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. R4 Technical Center is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The documented reason for this recall is: Fire & Fire-Related Burn Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 26 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

Unknown

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

Propane Cylinders Recalled by R4 Technical Center NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2000 Release # 00-173 R4 Recall Hotline: (866) 802-4492 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076 CPSC, R4 Technical Center Announce Recall of Propane Cylinders WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), R4 Technical Center - North Carolina LLC, of Hamptonville, N.C., is recalling 4,700 propane cylinders. These cylinders can have missing or damaged internal seals in the cylinder valves. Propane can leak, posing a risk of fire, explosion and burn injuries. R4 Technical Center has not received any reports of injuries. These propane cylinders have a sleeve over the tank with the writing "Blue Rhino" and a drawing of a blue rhinoceros. The recalled cylinders have either three stars arranged in a triangular shape under the top knob of the valve or the writing "B-75-3" on the side of the valve. Home center, discount department and hardware stores, and gas stations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida and Mississippi sold these propane cylinders from May 2000 through July 2000 for about $40 to $60 for a tank or $13 to $16 for a tank exchange. Consumers with the recalled valves should check for leaks by following the "Connection Instructions" on the cylinder's label. If the valve is leaking, turn it off immediately, and call the R4 Technical Center toll-free at (866) 802-4492 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement cylinder. If you cannot access the toll-free number from your calling area, contact Blue Rhino at (800) 258-7466.

Reason for Recall

Fire & Fire-Related Burn

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 00173
Date reported August 30, 2000
Date initiated August 30, 2000
Recalling firm R4 Technical Center
Units affected Not disclosed
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Propane Cylinders Recalled by R4 Technical Center NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2000 Release # 00-173 R4 Recall Hotline: (866) 802-4492 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076 CPSC, R4 Technical Center Announce Recall of Propane Cylinders WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), R4 Technical Center - North Carolina LLC, of Hamptonville, N.C., is recalling 4,700 propane cylinders. These cylinders can have missing or damaged internal seals in the cylinder valves. Propane can leak, posing a risk of fire, explosion and burn injuries. R4 Technical Center has not received any reports of injuries. These propane cylinders have a sleeve over the tank with the writing "Blue Rhino" and a drawing of a blue rhinoceros. The recalled cylinders have either three stars arranged in a triangular shape under the top knob of the valve or the writing "B-75-3" on the side of the valve. Home center, discount department and hardware stores, and gas stations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida and Mississippi sold these propane cylinders from May 2000 through July 2000 for about $40 to $60 for a tank or $13 to $16 for a tank exchange. Consumers with the recalled valves should check for leaks by following the "Connection Instructions" on the cylinder's label. If the valve is leaking, turn it off immediately, and call the R4 Technical Center toll-free at (866) 802-4492 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to receive a free replacement cylinder. If you cannot access the toll-free number from your calling area, contact Blue Rhino at (800) 258-7466.. Recalled by R4 Technical Center.
Why was this product recalled?
Fire & Fire-Related Burn
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on August 30, 2000. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 00173.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (00173) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).