In
cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Zenith
Electronics Corp. is voluntarily recalling to repair about 80,000
large-screen, analog projection televisions manufactured between 1995
and 1998. This recall is an expansion of a 1998 recall program
involving 111,000 projection television sets. A tear in a gasket can
cause coolant fluid to leak from the picture tube assembly. This can
cause smoking, charring, and electrical arcing inside of the
television, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Since
1998, Zenith has received 45 reports of incidents involving coolant
leakage, causing smoking or charring with the televisions, including
four cases where minor property damage occurred outside of the unit. No
injuries have been reported.
The projection televisions recalled in this expansion and the earlier
program have between 46 and 60 inch screens and were manufactured from
April 1995 through July 1997, and August 1998 through November 1998.
The date of manufacture can be found on the white label on the back of
the set. These televisions were manufactured in Mexico. Zenith
Projection televisions manufactured after 1998 are not included in this
recall.
Major appliance and department stores nationwide sold these televisions
from about April 1995 through April 1999 for between $1,200 and $2,800.
Consumers who have one of these televisions should pick up the phone
immediately and contact Zenith at (800) 777-5195 anytime to arrange for
a free inspection and repair.