CPSC, Ortovox USA Announce Recall of Avalanche Transceivers

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #05271) was formally reported on September 15, 2005. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Ortovox USA, of Hopkinton, N.H. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 15,500 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The batteries in these devices can become dislodged when the transceiver is struck sharply. The transceiver could fail to function properly in the aftermath of an avalanche, and result in the buried victim not being fou… 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 recalled avalanche transceivers and contact the firm to receive a new battery door that will help prevent the batteries from becoming dislodged. — 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. 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 21 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.