PlainRecalls

CPSC, Homier Distributing Co. Announce Recall of Extension Cords, Portable Lights, and Fluorescent Work Lights

Reported: June 19, 2003 Initiated: June 19, 2003 #03145 About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights units

Homier Distributing Co. Inc., of Huntington, Ind. issued this CPSC recall on June 19, 2003. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights units are affected. The recall was issued because: The extension cords and lights have undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, have inadequate grounding, faulty el…. 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 #03145) was formally reported on June 19, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Homier Distributing Co. Inc., of Huntington, Ind. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights units are affected, placing this recall in the million-unit bracket that typically triggers nationwide consumer alerts and retailer sweeps.

The documented reason for this recall is: The extension cords and lights have undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, have inadequate grounding, faulty electrical connections, and plastic handles that, once ignited, continue to burn and spread flames, po… 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 the product immediately and mail the cord to Homier Distributing Co., Customer Service Center, 100 Commerce Drive, Huntington, IN 46750 for a full refund, including the co… — 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 23 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

About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

Products Hazard Description HDC Brand 50-ft. Outdoor Extension Cord (Catalog #04247)HDC Brand 100-ft. Outdoor Extension Cord (Catalog #04521), Undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, and do not have overcurrent protection, which causes overheating, posing a shock and fire hazard to consumers. The cords are orange and have a three-prong plug. There is no labeling on the cord but the packaging reads, "HDC HOMIER DISTRIBUTING … 04247 50 FT. HEAVY DUTY EXTENSION CORD WITH 3-WIRE GROUNDED…MANUFACTURED IN CHINA."The cords also are orange and have a three-prong plug. The characters "65 C 16AWGX3C" are printed on the cord. The packaging reads, "HDC HOMIER DISTRIBUTING…04521 100 FT. OUTDOOR EXTENSION CORD…MANUFACTURED IN CHINA" HDC Brand Handyman's Trouble Lights (Catalog #04299)HDC Brand Trouble Light with 25' Cord (Catalog #04109) Undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, have inadequate grounding, faulty electrical conections, and plastic handles that once ignited continue to burn and spread flames, posing a shock, electrocution and fire hazard to consumers. The lights have a silver metal shroud, an orange plastic handle with a three-prong receptacle for an extension cord, and a 12-ft. orange cord. The metal shroud has the following labeling stamped into it, "CAUTION AVOID HAZARD - PULL PLUG WHEN RELAMPING - USE ONLY 75 WATT OR SMALLER BULB."The lights have a silver metal shroud, an orange plastic handle with a three-prong receptacle for an extension cord, and a 25-ft. orange cord with a three-prong plug. The metal shroud has the same words stamped into it as the 12-ft. model. The cords were manufactured in China. HDC Brand 16-inch AC/DC Fluorescent Work Light (Catalog #04070) Lack proper grounding, have exposed live wires, faulty electrical connections, and have sharp metal edges that can damage the insulation of electrical wires, posing a shock or electrocution hazard to consumers. The work lights have a 16-inch fluorescent light bulb with a silver metal shield on one side and can be plugged into a household outlet or the cigarette lighter in a car. The metal shield is labeled in part, "3 PINS PLUG TO AC, 110V-120V CIGARETTE PLUG TO DC, 12V.MADE IN CHINA. WARNING: To Prevent Fire or Shock Do Not Expose This Appliance to Rain or Moisture. The entire light is about 20 inches long and the bulb and shield are encased in a plastic tube with yellow end caps.

Reason for Recall

The extension cords and lights have undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, have inadequate grounding, faulty electrical connections, and plastic handles that, once ignited, continue to burn and spread flames, posing a shock, electrocution, and fire hazard to consumers.

Remedy

Consumers should stop using the product immediately and mail the cord to Homier Distributing Co., Customer Service Center, 100 Commerce Drive, Huntington, IN 46750 for a full refund, including the cost of shipping.

Details

Units Affected
About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights

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 03145
Date reported June 19, 2003
Date initiated June 19, 2003
Recalling firm Homier Distributing Co. Inc., of Huntington, Ind.
Units affected About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights
Distribution Not disclosed

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

Scale of Impact

About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights units affected — million-unit bracket.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units) ✓ This recall

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Products Hazard Description HDC Brand 50-ft. Outdoor Extension Cord (Catalog #04247)HDC Brand 100-ft. Outdoor Extension Cord (Catalog #04521), Undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, and do not have overcurrent protection, which causes overheating, posing a shock and fire hazard to consumers. The cords are orange and have a three-prong plug. There is no labeling on the cord but the packaging reads, "HDC HOMIER DISTRIBUTING … 04247 50 FT. HEAVY DUTY EXTENSION CORD WITH 3-WIRE GROUNDED…MANUFACTURED IN CHINA."The cords also are orange and have a three-prong plug. The characters "65 C 16AWGX3C" are printed on the cord. The packaging reads, "HDC HOMIER DISTRIBUTING…04521 100 FT. OUTDOOR EXTENSION CORD…MANUFACTURED IN CHINA" HDC Brand Handyman's Trouble Lights (Catalog #04299)HDC Brand Trouble Light with 25' Cord (Catalog #04109) Undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, have inadequate grounding, faulty electrical conections, and plastic handles that once ignited continue to burn and spread flames, posing a shock, electrocution and fire hazard to consumers. The lights have a silver metal shroud, an orange plastic handle with a three-prong receptacle for an extension cord, and a 12-ft. orange cord. The metal shroud has the following labeling stamped into it, "CAUTION AVOID HAZARD - PULL PLUG WHEN RELAMPING - USE ONLY 75 WATT OR SMALLER BULB."The lights have a silver metal shroud, an orange plastic handle with a three-prong receptacle for an extension cord, and a 25-ft. orange cord with a three-prong plug. The metal shroud has the same words stamped into it as the 12-ft. model. The cords were manufactured in China. HDC Brand 16-inch AC/DC Fluorescent Work Light (Catalog #04070) Lack proper grounding, have exposed live wires, faulty electrical connections, and have sharp metal edges that can damage the insulation of electrical wires, posing a shock or electrocution hazard to consumers. The work lights have a 16-inch fluorescent light bulb with a silver metal shield on one side and can be plugged into a household outlet or the cigarette lighter in a car. The metal shield is labeled in part, "3 PINS PLUG TO AC, 110V-120V CIGARETTE PLUG TO DC, 12V.MADE IN CHINA. WARNING: To Prevent Fire or Shock Do Not Expose This Appliance to Rain or Moisture. The entire light is about 20 inches long and the bulb and shield are encased in a plastic tube with yellow end caps.. Recalled by Homier Distributing Co. Inc., of Huntington, Ind.. Units affected: About 150,000 Extension Cords, 180,000 Portable Lights, and 54,000 Fluorescent Work Lights.
Why was this product recalled?
The extension cords and lights have undersized wiring, are not properly polarized, have inadequate grounding, faulty electrical connections, and plastic handles that, once ignited, continue to burn and spread flames, posing a shock, electrocution, and fire hazard to consumers.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should stop using the product immediately and mail the cord to Homier Distributing Co., Customer Service Center, 100 Commerce Drive, Huntington, IN 46750 for a full refund, including the cost of shipping.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on June 19, 2003. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 03145.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (03145) 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

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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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).