PlainRecalls

First Alert® Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/CO Alarms Recalled for Rapidly Draining Battery Power

Reported: May 2, 2006 Initiated: May 2, 2006 #06151 About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers) units

BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill. issued this CPSC recall on May 2, 2006. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers) units are affected. The recall was issued because: These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted…. 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 #06151) was formally reported on May 2, 2006. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers) 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: These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batt… 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 First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm. Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressin… — 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 20 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 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers)

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

The recall involves ONELINK™ battery-powered smoke and combination smoke/CO alarms. "First Alert" and "ONELINK™" are printed on the front of the alarm. The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarm. Model number SA500 or SCO500 with a date code prior to March 3, 2006 are included in this recall.

Reason for Recall

These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.

Remedy

Consumers should contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm. Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressing the "test" button. If the alarm signals a low battery alert, consumers should immediately replace the batteries. Consumers should not remove their alarms until they have received a replacement alarm.

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 06151
Date reported May 2, 2006
Date initiated May 2, 2006
Recalling firm BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill.
Units affected About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers)
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 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers) 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?
The recall involves ONELINK™ battery-powered smoke and combination smoke/CO alarms. "First Alert" and "ONELINK™" are printed on the front of the alarm. The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarm. Model number SA500 or SCO500 with a date code prior to March 3, 2006 are included in this recall.. Recalled by BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill.. Units affected: About 145,890 (About 52,400 were sold to consumers).
Why was this product recalled?
These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm. Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressing the "test" button. If the alarm signals a low battery alert, consumers should immediately replace the batteries. Consumers should not remove their alarms until they have received a replacement alarm.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on May 2, 2006. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 06151.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (06151) 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.

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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).