01/26/2011

Toy Tanks Sold at Family Dollar Stores are Recalled for Burn Hazard

HARTFORD, January 26 -- Remote-controlled toy tanks sold at Family Dollar Stores are being recalled because they may cause burns and consumers who own this toy should return it to the store, the Department of Consumer Protection advised today.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, NC, are voluntarily recalling about 67,000 of the Authentic Heroes Target Practice Tank sets because the tank's controller can overheat and melt, posing a burn hazard. Family Dollar has received five reports of the controllers overheating and melting. No injuries have been reported.

Department of Consumer Protection product safety inspectors will be visiting Family Dollar stores to ensure that the recall notice is properly displayed and that the toy is taken off store shelves in Connecticut. The play set includes a remote-controlled green toy tank attached by a cable to a grey battery-powered controller. The controller requires three AAA batteries to power the tank, which can move forward and back, rotate its turret and shoot projectiles. The controller is marked "Target Practice Tank Play Set."

Made in China, the toy was sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores nationwide from September 2010 through December 2010 for about $5.

According to the company’s website, Family Dollar Stores are located across Connecticut, including stores in Berlin, Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Bristol, Canaan, Danbury, Danielson, East Hartford, Groton, Hamden, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Plainville,  Stratford, Vernon, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Hartford, West Haven, Wethersfield, Willimantic, Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Winsted.

Consumers should take the toy away from children, remove the batteries and return the item to a Family Dollar store for a full refund. For more information, contact Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359. It is illegal to resell or try to resell a recalled consumer product.

photo of recalled toy tank from Family Dollar

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