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Brake pulled on kiddie cars
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October 22, 1998: 8:28 a.m. ET
Power Wheels children's vehicles recalled to repair faulty electrical systems
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Citing significant fire risks, the Consumer Products Safety Commission Thursday called for a recall of the Fisher-Price line of Power Wheels children's vehicles.
Between 2.5 million and 10 million of the child-sized, battery-operated cars will be subject to recall and repair, said Sean Fitzgerald, a spokesman for Fisher-Price's parent company, Mattel Inc.
The CPSC said failing electrical components and overheating have led to minor injuries to at least nine children and caused at least 150 fires, doing more than $300,000 in property damage to 22 homes and garages of Power Wheels owners.
The fires allegedly started while the vehicles were stored, but in some cases the vehicles caught fire while children were driving them.
The recall applies to all Power Wheels vehicles made prior to Oct. 1, 1998, Fitzgerald said.
Unsold Power Wheels will be removed from toy shelves immediately and repaired. Those cars, and any others made after Oct. 22, will feature a new tamper-proof fuse and a rechargeable battery that has a reinforced plastic connector.
Parents are advised to remove the car's six-volt batteries immediately until the vehicle can be brought in for an overhaul, officials said.
Barbie Jeep, Big Jake and Extreme Machine are three of the Power Wheels models, which travel up to five miles per hour and retail for between $70 and $300.
The Power Wheels Porsche, an earlier model of the vehicle, was recalled in 1991 by its original manufacturer, Kransco Power Wheels, according to CPSC documents. This model often failed to stop safely due to faulty contact points in the vehicle's then 18-volt battery.
Mattel stock (MAT) closed 3/4 lower at 31-3/4 on Wednesday. 
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