CPSC, Zebco Announce Recall of Compact Camper Stoves

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #01001) was formally reported on October 2, 2000. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Zebco, of Tulsa, Okla., a division of Brunswick Corp. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 9,600 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: These camper stoves could have been shipped with butane already in the fuel compartment, posing a fire and burn hazard. Also, because of a possible problem with the fuel control mechanism, the stoves could flare up or c… Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should stop using these stoves immediately, and call Zebco to arrange to have their stove picked up. Consumers returning their stoves will receive a $25 refund. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

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 3 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.