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CPSC recall · Reported March 17, 2004

CPSC, Salton, Inc. Announce Recall of Timex Outdoor Appliance Timers

The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance when the timer is turned off. Consumers can receive an electric shock.

Recall #
04092
Affected scope
16,700
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
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Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill. recalled The timer is designed to be mounted on a wall and plugged into a 120V outlet. It has an o… - a moderate-severity action.

CPSC, Salton, Inc. Announce Recall of Timex Outdoor Appliance Timers was recalled by Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill. in March 17, 2004. Reason: The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance …. Remedy: Consumers should contact Salton to receive a prepaid shipping label, to returnn the recal…. Verify recall #04092 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill. issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance ….

Moderate
severity level
17K units
affected scope
March 17, 2004
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #04092 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #04092) was formally reported on March 17, 2004. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records list the affected scope as 16,700.

The documented reason for this recall is: The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance when the timer is turned off. Consumers can receive an electric shock. 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 contact Salton to receive a prepaid shipping label, to returnn the recalled timer. Salton will send the consumer a replacement timer. - 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, 3 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.

Medical Devices recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 40,322 medical devices recalls on record

-1,00001,0002,0003,0004,000 20052008201120142017202020232026 1,248
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

16,700

Related Recalls

6

3 from same agency

Product description

The timer is designed to be mounted on a wall and plugged into a 120V outlet. It has an outlet on the underside for the appliance plug. Consumers can program the device to turn lights and appliances on or off at desired intervals. The word "Timex" is printed on the front door of the timer and on the dial inside. A label on the back includes the words "Model Number: 12/810."

Reason for recall

The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance when the timer is turned off. Consumers can receive an electric shock.

Remedy, what to do

Consumers should contact Salton to receive a prepaid shipping label, to returnn the recalled timer. Salton will send the consumer a replacement timer.

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 04092
Date reported March 17, 2004
Date initiated March 17, 2004
Recalling firm Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill.
Affected scope 16,700
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

16,700 units affected - limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) -
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
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

Consumers should contact Salton to receive a prepaid shipping label, to returnn the recalled timer. Salton will send the consumer…

  • Check the recall number (04092) 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?
The timer is designed to be mounted on a wall and plugged into a 120V outlet. It has an outlet on the underside for the appliance plug. Consumers can program the device to turn lights and appliances on or off at desired intervals. The word "Timex" is printed on the front door of the timer and on the dial inside. A label on the back includes the words "Model Number: 12/810.". Recalled by Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill.. Units affected: 16,700.
Why was this product recalled?
The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance when the timer is turned off. Consumers can receive an electric shock.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should contact Salton to receive a prepaid shipping label, to returnn the recalled timer. Salton will send the consumer a replacement timer.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on March 17, 2004. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 04092.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (04092) 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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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 March 17, 2004. 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.