Recall

A recall is when a company takes a product off the market or offers a fix because it is unsafe or violates the law. Different agencies oversee different products: the FDA handles food, drugs, and medical devices; the Consumer Product Safety Commission handles household products, toys, and furniture; and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration handles vehicles, tires, and car seats. Most recalls are technically voluntary, though agencies can press for or order them.

The FDA sorts recalls by danger. A Class I recall means there is a reasonable probability that using the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death; Class II means it may cause temporary or medically reversible problems; Class III means it is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.

A recall remedy is usually a refund, repair, or replacement. It is not compensation for injuries, lost time, or other losses. That gap is why recalls and lawsuits often go together. People who were hurt can bring product liability claims, and people who bought a recalled product that lost value, or who received an inadequate remedy, sometimes join class actions. A recall is strong evidence that a defect existed, but it does not automatically prove a particular person's injury was caused by it.

If you own a recalled product, stop using it, keep it and the packaging if you were injured, and follow the official recall instructions. Our guide on recalls versus class actions explains how the two differ, and we track food recall injury rights and the Walmart dresser tip-over recall.