PlainRecalls

2002 Recalls

376 recalls · Page 5 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 10 critical, 40 moderate, and 0 lower-severity recalls. The page references 30 distinct recalling firms operating in 9 distinct product categories, with 36 of 50 records disclosing affected-unit counts. Issuing-agency distribution on this slice leans toward CPSC (36), NHTSA (14), 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 Jul 8, 2002

CPSC, Snapper, Inc. Recall Lawn Mowers

Snapper, Inc., of McDonough, Ga.

CPSC Moderate Jul 2, 2002

CPSC, L.A. Lighter Inc. Announce Recall of Disposable Cigarette Lighters

CPSC Moderate Jul 2, 2002

CPSC, PM International Ltd. Announce Recall to Replace International Adapter Plugs

CPSC Moderate Jul 2, 2002

CPSC, Whirlpool Announce Recall of Washer and Gas Dryer Units

Whirlpool Corp., of Benton Harbor, Mich.

CPSC Moderate Jul 1, 2002

Bath & Body Works Recall of Ice Shaver

CPSC Moderate Jul 1, 2002

CPSC, Holophane Announce Recall of Luminaire Optical Assemblies

Holophane, of Newark, OH, a division of Acuity Lighting Group, Inc.

NHTSA Critical Jul 1, 2002

CHEVROLET,GMC 2000: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

CHEVROLET,GMC

CPSC Moderate Jun 27, 2002

CPSC, In-Sink-Erator Announce Recall to Repair Instant Hot Water Dispensers

In-Sink-Erator, of Racine, Wis.

CPSC Moderate Jun 25, 2002

CPSC, Candle-lite Announce Recall of Martha Stewart Everyday™ Brand Potpourri Simmering Pots Sold at Kmart

CPSC Moderate Jun 25, 2002

CPSC, Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. Announce Recall of Lighters

CPSC Moderate Jun 25, 2002

CPSC, Mountain Safety Research Announce Recall of Stove Fuel

Mountain Safety Research, of Seattle, Wash.

NHTSA Critical Jun 25, 2002

HYUNDAI 2000-2002: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

HYUNDAI

NHTSA Moderate Jun 21, 2002

MACK 2002: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

MACK

CPSC Moderate Jun 20, 2002

CPSC, BY US International Co. Announce Recall of "NEXT" Ultra Shock Bicycles Sold at Wal-Mart

BY US International Co. Ltd., of Taiwan

CPSC Moderate Jun 20, 2002

CPSC, UL United Inc. Announce Recall of Electrical Paintings

CPSC Moderate Jun 18, 2002

CPSC, Radio Flyer Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Ride-On Push Cars

Radio Flyer Inc., of Chicago, Ill.

NHTSA Critical Jun 14, 2002

FORD 2002: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

FORD

NHTSA Critical Jun 14, 2002

CHRYSLER 2001: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

CHRYSLER

CPSC Moderate Jun 13, 2002

CPSC, Brinkmann Announce Recall of Outdoor Tabletop Propane Heaters

The Brinkmann Corporation, of Dallas, Texas

NHTSA Moderate Jun 13, 2002

DODGE 2002: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DODGE

CPSC Moderate Jun 12, 2002

CPSC and Graco Announce Recall of Toy Track on Activity Centers

Graco Children's Products, Inc., of Elverson, Pa.

CPSC Moderate Jun 12, 2002

CPSC, Little Tikes Announce Recall of Pop 'n Scoot Ride-on Toys

The Little Tikes Company, of Hudson, Ohio

CPSC Moderate Jun 12, 2002

CPSC, Specialty Sales Co. Inc. Announce Recall of Novelty Cigarette Lighters

CPSC Moderate Jun 11, 2002

CPSC, Brookdale International Systems Inc. Announce Recall of Emergency Escape Smoke Hoods

Brookdale International Systems, Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

CPSC Moderate Jun 6, 2002

CPSC, Island Soap & Candle Works Announce Recall of Candles

Island Soap & Candle Works, of Honolulu, Hawaii

CPSC Moderate Jun 6, 2002

CPSC, Megatech Announce Recall of Rechargeable Battery Packs for Radio Controlled Airplanes

CPSC Moderate Jun 4, 2002

CPSC, Luxo Corp. Announce Recall of Portable Fluorescent Lamps

NHTSA Moderate Jun 3, 2002

BMW 2002: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

BMW

CPSC Moderate May 31, 2002

CPSC, D.A.M. Clothing, Inc., Announce Recall of Basic Editions 2-Piece Toddler Girls' Short Set

D.A.M. Clothing Inc., of New York, N.Y.

CPSC Moderate May 31, 2002

CPSC, Lands' End, Inc. Announce Recall of Soft Farm Set

Lands' End, Inc., of Dodgeville, Wis.

CPSC Moderate May 31, 2002

CPSC, Southern Wood Products Announce Recall of Children's Toy Box

Southern Wood Products, of Sparta, Tenn.

CPSC Moderate May 30, 2002

CPSC, The Sportsman's Guide Announce Recall of the Big Red Wagon

NHTSA Critical May 30, 2002

INFINITI,NISSAN 2001-2002: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

INFINITI,NISSAN

NHTSA Moderate May 29, 2002

MITSUBISHI 2002: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MITSUBISHI

CPSC Moderate May 24, 2002

CPSC Issues Warning About Hazardous Red Devil Gas Grills

Quantum North America Inc., of Encino, Calif.

CPSC Moderate May 24, 2002

CPSC, Spin Master Toys Announce Recall of Firestormer and Skyblazer Toy Planes

NHTSA Critical May 24, 2002

HYUNDAI 2002: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

HYUNDAI

CPSC Moderate May 21, 2002

CPSC, Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc. Remind Consumers about Recall of Inflatable Baby Floats

CPSC Moderate May 21, 2002

CPSC, Kolcraft Announce Recall of Toy Steering Wheels Sold on Strollers

CPSC Moderate May 21, 2002

CPSC, Rose Art Industries Announce Recall to Repair Cotton Candy Machine

CPSC Moderate May 20, 2002

CPSC, NHTSA, and Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. Announce Recall to Repair Infant Car Seats/Carriers

Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

NHTSA Critical May 20, 2002

BMW 2003: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BMW

NHTSA Critical May 20, 2002

INTERNATIONAL 2002: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

INTERNATIONAL

CPSC Moderate May 17, 2002

CPSC, QVC, Inc., Announce Recall of Red Devil Gas Grills

QVC, Inc., of West Chester, Pa.

CPSC Moderate May 16, 2002

CPSC, E-filliate Inc. Announce Recall of Extension Cords

CPSC Moderate May 16, 2002

CPSC, Fitness Quest Inc. Announce Recall of "Total Gym" Exercise Machines

CPSC Moderate May 16, 2002

CPSC, Philips Electronics Announce Recall of Speaker Power Adapters Sold with HP Computers

CPSC Moderate May 16, 2002

CPSC, Seismic Safety Products Inc. Announce Recall of Gas Shut-Off Valves

Seismic Safety Products Inc., a subsidiary of Pacific Aerospace & Electronics Inc., both of Wenatchee, Wash.

NHTSA Critical May 16, 2002

BMW 2001: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

BMW

NHTSA Critical May 16, 2002

HONDA 2000: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

HONDA

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