CPSC, E-filliate Inc. Announce Recall of Extension Cords

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #02162) was formally reported on May 16, 2002. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. The recalling firm is not specified in the federal record. Federal records indicate About 30,000 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The cords have reversed polarity, which can present electric shock and electrocution hazards to consumers. 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 unplug the cords immediately and call E-filliate to receive a prepaid shipping label, to return the cord and to select a free replacement or a full refund. Consumers who return the r… — 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 6 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 24 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.