Severity
Moderate
Cadet Manufacturing Co. Recall of In-Wall Electric Heaters
Reported: April 2, 2002 Initiated: April 2, 2002 #02531 About 19,000 units
Cadet Manufacturing Co., of Vancouver, Wash. issued this CPSC recall on April 2, 2002. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 19,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: When an RM or ZM model heatbox (replacing a ZA or RA model heatbox) is inserted into a ZAC wall can and wired through a…. 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 #02531) was formally reported on April 2, 2002. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Cadet Manufacturing Co., of Vancouver, Wash. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 19,000 units are affected.
The documented reason for this recall is: When an RM or ZM model heatbox (replacing a ZA or RA model heatbox) is inserted into a ZAC wall can and wired through a fitting in the top-left wall can knock-out (see the picture), the RM or ZM model has the potential … 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: If the heater is part of the recall, stop using it immediately by turning it off at the electrical panel board (circuit breaker or fuse box). Consumers should contact Cadet to schedule a free repair.… — 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 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 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.
Recall Distribution by Severity Class
Units Affected
About 19,000
Related Recalls
6
1 from same agency
Product Description
This is a reminder of the voluntary recall program for certain RM and ZM model Cadet in-wall electric heaters which began in July 2001. The RM and ZM program is not affected by the closure of the recall program for the Cadet heaters announced in February 2000. This program involves RM and ZM heaters that were shipped prior to September 2000 and provided as replacements for the model ZA and RA Cadet heaters that were recalled in February 2000. The program also includes about 19,000 units of the RM and ZM model Cadet heaters that were sold through other sales channels from 1998 through 2001. Only heaters used as a replacement for the ZA and RA models and installed in a ZAC wall can and wired through the top-left wall can knock-out are part of this recall.
Reason for Recall
When an RM or ZM model heatbox (replacing a ZA or RA model heatbox) is inserted into a ZAC wall can and wired through a fitting in the top-left wall can knock-out (see the picture), the RM or ZM model has the potential for continuous heater operation, regardless of thermostat settings or room temperature. This can cause the heater to overheat and catch nearby combustibles on fire.
Remedy
If the heater is part of the recall, stop using it immediately by turning it off at the electrical panel board (circuit breaker or fuse box). Consumers should contact Cadet to schedule a free repair. In July 2001, Cadet began directly notifying affected consumers who participated in the October 1997 and February 2000 heater recalls about this RM and ZM program and began arranging service calls.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- Cadet Manufacturing Co., of Vancouver, Wash.
- Units Affected
- About 19,000
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 02531 |
| Date reported | April 2, 2002 |
| Date initiated | April 2, 2002 |
| Recalling firm | Cadet Manufacturing Co., of Vancouver, Wash. |
| Units affected | About 19,000 |
| 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? ▼
This is a reminder of the voluntary recall program for certain RM and ZM model Cadet in-wall electric heaters which began in July 2001. The RM and ZM program is not affected by the closure of the recall program for the Cadet heaters announced in February 2000. This program involves RM and ZM heaters that were shipped prior to September 2000 and provided as replacements for the model ZA and RA Cadet heaters that were recalled in February 2000. The program also includes about 19,000 units of the RM and ZM model Cadet heaters that were sold through other sales channels from 1998 through 2001. Only heaters used as a replacement for the ZA and RA models and installed in a ZAC wall can and wired through the top-left wall can knock-out are part of this recall.. Recalled by Cadet Manufacturing Co., of Vancouver, Wash.. Units affected: About 19,000.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
When an RM or ZM model heatbox (replacing a ZA or RA model heatbox) is inserted into a ZAC wall can and wired through a fitting in the top-left wall can knock-out (see the picture), the RM or ZM model has the potential for continuous heater operation, regardless of thermostat settings or room temperature. This can cause the heater to overheat and catch nearby combustibles on fire.
What should consumers do? ▼
If the heater is part of the recall, stop using it immediately by turning it off at the electrical panel board (circuit breaker or fuse box). Consumers should contact Cadet to schedule a free repair. In July 2001, Cadet began directly notifying affected consumers who participated in the October 1997 and February 2000 heater recalls about this RM and ZM program and began arranging service calls.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on April 2, 2002. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 02531.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (02531) 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.
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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.
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
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).