CPSC, Peg Perego Announce Recall of Children's Riding Vehicles

March 24, 1999
Release # 99-084

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For Immediate Release;
Contact: Nychelle Fleming
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1192

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Peg Perego USA Inc., of Fort Wayne, Ind., is recalling about 274,000 battery-powered children's riding vehicles for repair. Pedals can stick and electrical components can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children.

CPSC and Peg Perego have received about 320 reports of electrical components overheating or pedals sticking. Thirty fires have been reported, resulting in one child suffering second-degree burns to his hand and at least $55,000 in property damage. One child suffered a concussion and six children received bruises when accelerator pedals stuck and the vehicles hit trees, fences, walls or parked automobiles.

The Peg Perego vehicles being recalled run on 12 volts, powered by two 6-volt batteries, and were manufactured before December 1997. The vehicles are made of plastic and have been sold under the following model names: Corral 270, Diablo, Dragon, Gaucho, Gaucho Grande, Gaucho High Torque, Gaucho Sport, Magica, Magnum, Ranger GT, Thunderbolt, Thundercat, and Tornado. The model name and Peg Perego appear on each vehicle. The company will help consumers identify if their model is part of the recall. Peg Perego vehicles are intended for children 3 to 8 years old, and the vehicles' speed ranges from 2.5 to 5 mph, depending on the model.

Toy stores and retail catalogs sold the vehicles nationwide from 1990 through 1997 for about $100 to $550.

Consumers should remove the vehicles' batteries right away and not let children use the vehicles until the repair has been made. Consumers should contact Peg Perego at (888) 893-7903 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or at www.perego.com to order a free repair kit, which can be installed by the consumer or by an authorized Peg Perego service center.

Service centers will not have repair kits. The 12-volt, two battery Peg Perego vehicles manufactured since 1998 and the 6-volt, one battery vehicles are not included in this recall.