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CPSC recall · Reported July 17, 2003

CPSC, De Bon Sales Announce Recall of Cigarette Lighters

The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to young children.

Recall #
03162
Affected scope
8,000
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
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De Bon Sales Inc., of Houston, Texas recalled There are two styles of lighters included in this recall. The first is a chrome and silve… - a moderate-severity action.

CPSC, De Bon Sales Announce Recall of Cigarette Lighters was recalled by De Bon Sales Inc., of Houston, Texas in July 17, 2003. Reason: The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to you…. Remedy: Return the lighters to the store where purchased, for a refund.. Verify recall #03162 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

De Bon Sales Inc., of Houston, Texas issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to you….

Moderate
severity level
8K units
affected scope
July 17, 2003
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #03162 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #03162) was formally reported on July 17, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. De Bon Sales Inc., of Houston, Texas is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records list the affected scope as 8,000.

The documented reason for this recall is: The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to young children. 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: Return the lighters to the store where purchased, for a refund. - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 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 - 3,731 children & baby products recalls on record

0100200300400500600 20052008201120142017202020232026 146
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

8,000

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

There are two styles of lighters included in this recall. The first is a chrome and silver lighter, in the shape of a rearing horse. It is about 2.3 inches long and is labeled "DE-L-36." The second lighter is silver-colored, in the shape of a bird head holding a snake. It is about 2.5 inches long and is labeled "DE-L-23."

Reason for recall

The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to young children.

Remedy, what to do

Return the lighters to the store where purchased, for a refund.

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 03162
Date reported July 17, 2003
Date initiated July 17, 2003
Recalling firm De Bon Sales Inc., of Houston, Texas
Affected scope 8,000
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.

Scale of Impact

8,000 units affected - limited or regional distribution scale.

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

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.

What to do with this recall

Return the lighters to the store where purchased, for a refund.

  • Check the recall number (03162) 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?
There are two styles of lighters included in this recall. The first is a chrome and silver lighter, in the shape of a rearing horse. It is about 2.3 inches long and is labeled "DE-L-36." The second lighter is silver-colored, in the shape of a bird head holding a snake. It is about 2.5 inches long and is labeled "DE-L-23.". Recalled by De Bon Sales Inc., of Houston, Texas. Units affected: 8,000.
Why was this product recalled?
The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to young children.
What should consumers do?
Return the lighters to the store where purchased, for a refund.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on July 17, 2003. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 03162.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (03162) 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.

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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Browse all Children & Baby Products recalls →

Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: CPSC, reported July 17, 2003. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.