PlainRecalls
No agency classActive

CPSC recall · Reported October 24, 2000

CPSC, Appliance Manufacturers Announce Voluntary Recall Initiative for Old Chest Freezers - A Deadly Play Area for Children

Although some manufacturers had freezers that were in compliance prior to the 1970 standards, most old chest freezers have latches that can trap a child. Children playing "hide-an…

Recall #
01016
Affected scope
Up to 9 million
Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.
Verify with CPSC →
View my saved recalls

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (Aham) and its refrigerator/freezer manufacturing members recalled The freezers that are part of this program were made before 1970 by more than 40 manufact….

CPSC, Appliance Manufacturers Announce Voluntary Recall Initiative for Old Chest Freezers… was recalled by The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (Aham) and its refrigerator/freezer manufacturing members in October 24, 2000. Reason: Although some manufacturers had freezers that were in compliance prior to the 1970 standards, most old chest …. Remedy: Consumers should properly dispose of these non-working freezers immediately or disable th…. Verify recall #01016 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (Aham) and its refrigerator/freezer manufacturing members issued this CPSC recall-Although some manufacturers had freezers that were in compliance prior to the 1970 standards, most old chest ….

None
agency class
October 24, 2000
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #01016 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This recall's affected scope, documented in the Recall Profile below, stays within a single-region or limited-distribution footprint. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. Consumers holding this product should act on the agency's documented remedy above rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 5 from CPSC - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Children & Baby Products recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 3,781 children & baby products recalls on record

0100200300400500600 20052008201120142017202020232026 196

Product description

The freezers that are part of this program were made before 1970 by more than 40 manufacturers, a number of whom do not exist today. Consumers can determine if their chest freezer poses a hazard by trying to open the freezer without using the handle. If the freezer can be opened by pulling up on sides of the lid, it is not a hazard. If the lid only opens by using the handle, it needs to be properly disposed of or disabled. Up to 9 million chest freezers were manufactured between 1945 and 1970 before voluntary safety standards went into effect, allowing freezers to be opened from the inside. The freezers that are part of this program were made before 1970 by more than 40 manufacturers, a number of whom do not exist today. Consumers can determine if their chest freezer poses a hazard by trying to open the freezer without using the handle. If the freezer can be opened by pulling up on sides of the lid, it is not a hazard. If the lid only opens by using the handle, it needs to be properly disposed of or disabled.

Reason for recall

Although some manufacturers had freezers that were in compliance prior to the 1970 standards, most old chest freezers have latches that can trap a child. Children playing "hide-and-seek" have found the non-working freezers a deadly place to hide. When the lid closes, children can become trapped inside and suffocate - usually in less than ten minutes.

Remedy, what to do

Consumers should properly dispose of these non-working freezers immediately or disable the latch, if disposal is impossible. Even if a consumer has a pre-1970 chest freezer that is working, they should still call the toll-free number to get information on what to do, when the freezer is no longer working.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Not classified by agency
Status Active
Recall number 01016
Date reported October 24, 2000
Date initiated October 24, 2000
Recalling firm The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (Aham) and its refrigerator/freezer manufacturing members
Affected scope Up to 9 million
Distribution Not disclosed
Official source CPSC notice →

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

What to do with this recall

Consumers should properly dispose of these non-working freezers immediately or disable the latch, if disposal is impossible. Even…

  • Check the recall number (01016) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status and remedy on the official CPSC notice before acting. CPSC notice
  • Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next

This page summarizes the official CPSC record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled? ▼
The freezers that are part of this program were made before 1970 by more than 40 manufacturers, a number of whom do not exist today. Consumers can determine if their chest freezer poses a hazard by trying to open the freezer without using the handle. If the freezer can be opened by pulling up on sides of the lid, it is not a hazard. If the lid only opens by using the handle, it needs to be properly disposed of or disabled. Up to 9 million chest freezers were manufactured between 1945 and 1970 before voluntary safety standards went into effect, allowing freezers to be opened from the inside. The freezers that are part of this program were made before 1970 by more than 40 manufacturers, a number of whom do not exist today. Consumers can determine if their chest freezer poses a hazard by trying to open the freezer without using the handle. If the freezer can be opened by pulling up on sides of the lid, it is not a hazard. If the lid only opens by using the handle, it needs to be properly disposed of or disabled.. Recalled by The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (Aham) and its refrigerator/freezer manufacturing members. Units affected: Up to 9 million.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
Although some manufacturers had freezers that were in compliance prior to the 1970 standards, most old chest freezers have latches that can trap a child. Children playing "hide-and-seek" have found the non-working freezers a deadly place to hide. When the lid closes, children can become trapped inside and suffocate - usually in less than ten minutes.
What should consumers do? ▼
Consumers should properly dispose of these non-working freezers immediately or disable the latch, if disposal is impossible. Even if a consumer has a pre-1970 chest freezer that is working, they should still call the toll-free number to get information on what to do, when the freezer is no longer working.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on October 24, 2000. CPSC does not publish a hazard classification for this recall. Recall number: 01016.
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.

Nationwide recalls with similar severity or category timing

Consumer-product notices outside this firm and state, matched by severity timing and product category.

Similar severity · nearest report date

Same archive severity grade, closest by report date among other firms and states.

BMW 2001: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CON… 2000-10-24 CPSC, Toro Co. Announce Recall of Lawn Mo… 2000-10-25 CPSC, Playworld Systems Announce Recall o… 2000-10-26 MITSUBISHI 2001: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DE… 2000-10-27

Similar Children & Baby Products · nearest report date

Same product category, closest by report date among other firms and states (deduped against the severity set).

CPSC, The Betesh Group Announce Recall of… 2000-10-27 CPSC, Window Covering Industry Announce R… 2000-11-01 CPSC, Dolgencorp Inc. Announce Recall of … 2000-11-02 CPSC, Playworld Systems Announce Recall o… 2000-10-03

Compare this recall with CLEAR EYES Maximum Itchy Eye Relief, 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) per … → · All Children & Baby Products recalls

This recall: CPSC, reported October 24, 2000. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy; related-recall context is computed across the full archive.

Methodology · Corrections · Archive as of August 2026