PlainRecalls

2002 Recalls

376 recalls · Page 1 of 8

2002 Recall Year Insight

Federal agencies issued 376 product recalls indexed by PlainRecalls in calendar year 2002. That represents about 0.45% of the 83,949 total recalls we track from 1995 through the present, and averages roughly 1.0 recalls per day across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, and USDA FSIS combined. Year-level views are the cleanest way to see macro patterns: volume spikes often correlate with new regulatory priorities (e.g., infant-sleep products after 2021, lithium-ion batteries after 2022), supply-chain contamination events, or changes in agency enforcement intensity, while quiet years can reflect either genuine product-safety improvements or reduced agency staffing and reporting lag. With 8 pages at 50 recalls each, browsing this year end-to-end gives a statistically representative sample of what the federal recall pipeline looked like in 2002.

On this page of 50 records, severity classification shows 9 critical, 41 moderate, and 0 lower-severity recalls. The page references 33 distinct recalling firms operating in 6 distinct product categories, with 34 of 50 records disclosing affected-unit counts. Issuing-agency distribution on this slice leans toward CPSC (34), NHTSA (16), which matters because each agency's recall authority, hazard framing, and remedy mechanism differ — an FDA food recall, a CPSC consumer-product recall, and a NHTSA vehicle recall are legally distinct instruments even when the underlying hazard language sounds similar. Reviewing the dominant agency for a given year is one of the fastest ways to understand where federal attention was concentrated.

Year-indexed browsing serves three practical purposes: historical research (tracking how a hazard class evolved over time), consumer action (finding whether a product purchased in 2002 was later recalled), and journalistic or regulatory context (understanding what the enforcement landscape looked like in a given period). Every record on this page links to a full detail view with the hazard, remedy, distribution, and agency-assigned recall number — always use that recall number to verify current status directly with the issuing agency before acting on time-sensitive remedies, because agencies amend, terminate, and expand recalls in the months and years after initial publication. Data on this page reflects federal agency public filings; the agency's live record remains authoritative for legal, medical, or safety decisions. Verify with FDA openFDA, CPSC, NHTSA, or USDA FSIS for the system-of-record on any specific recall. PlainRecalls indexes this archive for research and consumer awareness purposes.

CPSC Moderate Dec 26, 2002

CPSC, Brooklyn Lollipop Announce Recall of Electric Fans

CPSC Moderate Dec 26, 2002

CPSC, Century Tool and Manufacturing Announce Recall of Camping Stoves

Century Tool and Manufacturing Co. Inc., of Cherry Valley, Ill.

CPSC Moderate Dec 26, 2002

CPSC, Kmart Corp. Announce Recall of Wooden Toy Vehicles

Kmart Corp., of Troy, Mich.

CPSC Moderate Dec 26, 2002

CPSC, Madrigal Announce Recall of Subwoofers

Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc., of Middletown, Conn.

CPSC Moderate Dec 24, 2002

CPSC, Atico International Announce Recall of Christmas Candles

CPSC Moderate Dec 23, 2002

CPSC, Elkton Sparkler Announce Recall of Bamboo-Stick Sparklers

CPSC Moderate Dec 23, 2002

CPSC, Kohl's Department Stores Inc. Announce Recall of Children's Fleece Pant Sets

Kohl's Department Stores Inc., of Menomonee Falls, Wis.

CPSC Moderate Dec 23, 2002

CPSC, Lovee Doll & Toy Co., Inc. Announce Recall of Talking Dolls

NHTSA Critical Dec 23, 2002

HONDA 2002-2003: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

HONDA

CPSC Moderate Dec 20, 2002

CPSC, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® Announce Recall of Motion Lamps

CPSC Moderate Dec 20, 2002

CPSC, Wear Me Apparel Corp. Announce Recall of Infant Girls' Garments

CPSC Moderate Dec 20, 2002

CPSC, Zutano Inc. Announce Recall of Stuffed Bunny Toys

CPSC Moderate Dec 19, 2002

CPSC, Makita U.S.A. Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Circular Saws

CPSC Moderate Dec 19, 2002

CPSC, Milwaukee Tool Corp. Announce Recall of Electric Grinders

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp., of Brookfield, Wis.

CPSC Moderate Dec 19, 2002

CPSC, Montrose Wholesale Candies & Sundries Inc. Announce Recall of Illegally Imported Cigarette Lighters

CPSC Moderate Dec 19, 2002

CPSC, Philips Announce Recall 3-in-1 Waffle Maker/Sandwich Maker/Grill

NHTSA Critical Dec 17, 2002

FREIGHTLINER 2002: TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

FREIGHTLINER

CPSC Moderate Dec 13, 2002

CPSC, The Lakeside Collection Announce Recall of Kid's Tent Set

The Lakeside Collection, of Lincolnshire, Ill.

NHTSA Moderate Dec 12, 2002

INFINITI 2003: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

INFINITI

NHTSA Critical Dec 12, 2002

CHEVROLET,GMC 2003: STEERING:LINKAGES

CHEVROLET,GMC

CPSC Moderate Dec 11, 2002

CPSC and S.I.T. Announce Recall of Plastic Stack Chairs

CPSC Moderate Dec 11, 2002

CPSC, Home Interiors and Gifts Announce Recall of Tea Lights

NHTSA Moderate Dec 9, 2002

CHEVROLET,OLDSMOBILE,PONTIAC 2001: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CHEVROLET,OLDSMOBILE,PONTIAC

NHTSA Moderate Dec 9, 2002

BUICK 2001-2003: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

BUICK

CPSC Moderate Dec 3, 2002

CPSC, LTD Commodities, Inc. Announce Recall of Kid's Tent Set

LTD Commodities, Inc., of Bannockburn, Ill.

CPSC Moderate Dec 3, 2002

CPSC, Oceanic USA Announce Recall of Scuba Regulators

Oceanic USA, of San Leandro, Calif.

NHTSA Critical Dec 2, 2002

CHEVROLET,GMC 2003: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

CHEVROLET,GMC

NHTSA Critical Dec 2, 2002

DODGE 2003: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

DODGE

NHTSA Critical Dec 2, 2002

FREIGHTLINER 2002: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

FREIGHTLINER

CPSC Moderate Nov 27, 2002

CPSC, Good Lad Apparel Announce Recall of Infant Girls' Garment and Shoes

Good Lad Apparel of Philadelphia, Pa.

CPSC Moderate Nov 27, 2002

CPSC, Tecumseh Products Co. Announce Recall of Power Equipment Engines

Tecumseh Products Co., Tecumseh, Mich.

NHTSA Moderate Nov 27, 2002

BMW 2003: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

BMW

NHTSA Critical Nov 26, 2002

MACK 2002: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

MACK

NHTSA Critical Nov 26, 2002

NISSAN 2003: WHEELS:RIM

NISSAN

CPSC Moderate Nov 25, 2002

CPSC, abc Distributing, Inc. Announce Recall of Kid's Tent Set

abc Distributing, Inc., of North Miami, Fla.

CPSC Moderate Nov 25, 2002

CPSC, Cannondale Corp. Announce Recall of ATVs

Cannondale Corp., of Bethel, Conn.

CPSC Moderate Nov 25, 2002

CPSC, Honda Announce Recall of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

American Honda Motor Co. Inc., of Torrance Calif.

CPSC Moderate Nov 21, 2002

CPSC, Baby Trend Announce Recall to Repair Infant Swings Sold at Toys R Us

Baby Trend Inc., of Ontario, Calif.

CPSC Moderate Nov 21, 2002

CPSC, Disney Store Announce Recall of Monsters, Inc. Character Plush Dolls

CPSC Moderate Nov 21, 2002

CPSC, Kolcraft Announce Recall of Toy Attachments on Baby Walkers

Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc., of Chicago, Ill.

NHTSA Moderate Nov 21, 2002

HYUNDAI 2000: TIRES:VALVE

HYUNDAI

NHTSA Moderate Nov 21, 2002

LINCOLN 2003: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LINCOLN

CPSC Moderate Nov 20, 2002

CPSC, Meijer Announce Recall of Three-Tier Tealight Candleholder

Meijer, of Grand Rapids, MI

CPSC Moderate Nov 19, 2002

CPSC, Bear Archery LLC Announce Recall of Compound Bows

Bear Archery LLC, of Gainesville, Fla.

CPSC Moderate Nov 19, 2002

CPSC, Estyle, Inc. recall Children's Jackets

Estyle, Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif.

CPSC Moderate Nov 19, 2002

CPSC, Evercel Announce Recall of Nickel Zinc Battery Chargers

Evercel Inc., of Hingham, Mass.

CPSC Moderate Nov 19, 2002

CPSC, Target Corp. Announce Recall of Men's Sweatshirts

Trends Clothing Corp., of Miami, Fla.

CPSC Moderate Nov 15, 2002

CPSC, Halo Burger Announce Recall of Flashlights and Batteries Sold in Kids Meals

NHTSA Moderate Nov 15, 2002

INTERNATIONAL 2003: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

INTERNATIONAL

NHTSA Critical Nov 14, 2002

CHEVROLET,GMC 2003: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

CHEVROLET,GMC

Nearby Recall Years

Browse recalls from adjacent calendar years to see how federal enforcement volume has shifted over time.

Compare 2002 with 2001 →

Data Sources

  • Source: FDA openFDA Enforcement API — calendar-year recall filings for food, drugs, and devices
  • Source: CPSC + NHTSA + USDA FSIS — consumer product, vehicle, and meat/poultry recall feeds for 2002