PlainRecalls
ModerateActive

CPSC recall · Reported July 3, 2003

CPSC, Toshiba America Consumer Products Announce Recall of Rear Projection Televisions

If the capacitors short circuit, due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the metal parts on the television could present a shock or electrocution ha…

Recall #
03544
Affected scope
3,400
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
Verify with CPSC →
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Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.j. recalled This program includes a limited number of units of the following Toshiba rear projection … - a moderate-severity action.

CPSC, Toshiba America Consumer Products Announce Recall of Rear Projection Televisions was recalled by Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.j. in July 3, 2003. Reason: If the capacitors short circuit, due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the m…. Remedy: Toshiba has contacted many of the owners of the affected televisions. However, if you hav…. Verify recall #03544 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.j. issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-If the capacitors short circuit, due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the m….

Moderate
severity level
3K units
affected scope
July 3, 2003
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #03544 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #03544) was formally reported on July 3, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.j. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records list the affected scope as 3,400.

The documented reason for this recall is: If the capacitors short circuit, due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the metal parts on the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard. In addition, the metal jacks on th… 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: Toshiba has contacted many of the owners of the affected televisions. However, if you have not been contacted, please contact Toshiba. Consumers who have an affected television will receive a free re… - 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.

Household Products recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 3,056 household products recalls on record

50100150200250 20052008201120142017202020232026 115
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

3,400

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

This program includes a limited number of units of the following Toshiba rear projection televisions: Model 50A62, Model 51H83, and Model 57H83. To determine if your television set is affected by this corrective action, go to www.tacp.toshiba.com/safety_notice.asp and follow the instructions.

Reason for recall

If the capacitors short circuit, due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the metal parts on the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard. In addition, the metal jacks on the back of the television or another metal box attached to the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard, as a result of the capacitors' failure.

Remedy, what to do

Toshiba has contacted many of the owners of the affected televisions. However, if you have not been contacted, please contact Toshiba. Consumers who have an affected television will receive a free replacement, which includes removal of the recalled television, delivery and installation of the replacement.

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 03544
Date reported July 3, 2003
Date initiated July 3, 2003
Recalling firm Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.j.
Affected scope 3,400
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

3,400 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

Toshiba has contacted many of the owners of the affected televisions. However, if you have not been contacted, please contact Tos…

  • Check the recall number (03544) 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?
This program includes a limited number of units of the following Toshiba rear projection televisions: Model 50A62, Model 51H83, and Model 57H83. To determine if your television set is affected by this corrective action, go to www.tacp.toshiba.com/safety_notice.asp and follow the instructions.. Recalled by Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.j.. Units affected: 3,400.
Why was this product recalled?
If the capacitors short circuit, due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the metal parts on the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard. In addition, the metal jacks on the back of the television or another metal box attached to the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard, as a result of the capacitors' failure.
What should consumers do?
Toshiba has contacted many of the owners of the affected televisions. However, if you have not been contacted, please contact Toshiba. Consumers who have an affected television will receive a free replacement, which includes removal of the recalled television, delivery and installation of the replacement.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on July 3, 2003. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 03544.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (03544) 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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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 3, 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.