Costco Recalls Thousands of Items Off Shelves Due to Dangerous Defect

About 400,000 patio umbrellas sold at retailer Costco were recalled due to a malfunction that can cause the items to catch on fire, according to a federal agency.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced it is recalling SunVilla “Solar LED Market Umbrellas” after six reported incidents where the products malfunctioned. One of the incidents sent a person to the hospital due to smoke inhalation.

The umbrellas were manufactured in China, the CPSC says. They were imported into the United States via SunVilla Corporation, a firm based in California.

“The lithium-ion batteries in the umbrella’s solar panels can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards,” the agency says in the notice.

The recalled 10-foot Solar LED Market Umbrella with a round back solar puck at the top of the umbrella (US CPSC)

It adds that SunVilla “received six reports of the lithium-ion batteries overheating,” noting that it “includes three reports of solar panels catching fire while charging via the AC adapter indoors and two reports of umbrellas catching fire when the solar panel puck overheated and caught fire while attached to the umbrella and one smoke inhalation injury.”

The CPSC recommends that consumers stop using the products immediately and should remove the solar panel puck that contains the lithium-ion battery from the top of the umbrella. The puck should then be stored away from the sun and away from material that can catch on fire. Consumers also shouldn’t charge it with the AC adapter.

The umbrellas were only sold at Costco stores across the U.S. and Canada, the agency says. There were sold between December 2020 through May 2022 for $130 to $160.

More than 400,000 were sold in the U.S., and 33,000 were sold in Canada, according to the notice.

“Consumers can return the umbrellas and solar puck to any Costco Warehouse nationwide for a full refund. Consumers unable to return the product to Costco can contact the firm for instructions on how to receive a refund.  SunVilla and Costco are contacting all known purchasers,” the notice adds.

Consumers can call SunVilla toll-free at 866-600-3133 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. They can also contact the company via LEDRecall@sunvilla.com, or on its website at https://sunvilla.com/pages/recall.

Earlier this month, Ford Motor Co. announced it is recalling 50,000 electric vehicles due to a litany of issues connected to its lithium-ion battery. It told dealers, meanwhile, to stop selling Mustang Mach-Es produced between May 27, 2020, and May 24, 2022.

“In the affected vehicles, it is possible that the high voltage battery main contactors may overheat, which can result in an open contactor or welding condition. Should the contactors weld closed while driving, a powertrain malfunction warning light will be illuminated on the next drive cycle, along with a no start condition,” the company said in a letter.