CPSC sues to recall 98,000 Lakkzoom immersion water heaters that catch fire within minutes

The first forced-recall suit in nearly 40 years, after 235 fire reports and heaters that ignited in the agency's own lab. Plus Ford recalls 741,000 F-150s, Explorers, and Expeditions that can roll away in Park, and a Sili Factory teething toy is pulled over a choking hazard.

The federal government just used the strongest recall power it has, for the first time in almost four decades, against a $25 gadget you may have dropped in your bathtub.

On July 22 the Consumer Product Safety Commission, through the Justice Department, filed an imminent-hazard lawsuit in federal court in Washington to force a mandatory recall of Lakkzoom immersion water heaters. The heaters can overheat and catch fire "within minutes" when they are turned on completely or partially out of water, according to the complaint. CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman called it "the Commission's first use of its Section 12 imminent hazard authority since 1987."

What it is. Lakkzoom portable immersion water heaters, a perforated metal tube with plastic end caps and a power cord, roughly the size of a curling iron, that you submerge to heat water in bathtubs, buckets, and pools. The recalled models are 1500W, HT1500W (also sold as MJ-R13), HT2000W, and 2000W. About 98,000 have been sold in the United States, primarily through Amazon, for roughly $20 to $40, since late 2022.

The hazard. The heaters lack dry-burn protection, the feature that cuts power when the element is not fully submerged. CPSC tested the 1500W and 2000W models in its lab, and both emitted flames. The agency says it has identified at least 235 fire-related incidents since December 2022, including more than 137 since September 2024. Customer reports in the court filing describe a pool catching fire and burning a hole in the liner, a bathtub melting after the heater ignited, and a garage nearly burning down. One Washington father's nine-year-old daughter alerted him to flames shooting from the pool; a Minnesota couple heard an explosion and found their hot tub on fire. The sellers marketed the heaters as "safe" and "UL listed," but CPSC says they fail the UL 499 fire standard.

What to do. CPSC urges you to stop using any Lakkzoom immersion heater immediately, unplug it, and keep it away from water. This is a stop-use warning plus a lawsuit seeking a court-ordered recall, not a voluntary recall with a refund line yet, so there is no refund process today. If you have had an incident, report it to SaferProducts.gov. The Justice Department is asking the court to order a full refund to buyers; that would only happen if the court grants the request.

The two firms named in the suit, Cixi Miaojie Electrical Appliance Co. and Changsha Jiayi Tianzhuo Trading Co., are both based in China and have not agreed to a recall, which is exactly the scenario Section 12 was built for: a seller that will not act on its own.

Ford recalls 741,000 trucks and SUVs that can roll away in Park

Ford filed this one on June 24 and VINs have been searchable on NHTSA.gov since June 26, but interim owner letters do not mail until August 3, so most affected drivers still have not been told. That gap is the reason to check your VIN now.

NHTSA recall 26V402 covers 741,195 vehicles, all built with park-by-wire and a 10-speed automatic transmission: 2018-2021 Ford Expedition (246,202) and Lincoln Navigator (59,079), 2020-2021 Ford Explorer (313,147) and Lincoln Aviator (40,197), and 2021 Ford F-150 (82,570).

The hazard. The transmission valve body separator plate can limit flow to the park valve, causing the parking pawl to engage while the vehicle is still moving when certain shifts are commanded. That slams a locking pin into a spinning gear, grinds down the pawl, and damages the park system. Later, you shift into Park, walk away, and the damaged pawl cannot hold the vehicle. NHTSA's language: "Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash." Ford has identified more than 280 rollaway reports, with 24 allegations of property damage and nine alleged injuries, two of them described as emotional injuries.

What to do. Set the parking brake every single time you park until the repair is done; do not trust Park alone. Check your VIN (live since June 26). Dealers will update the powertrain control module software and inspect and replace any damaged park components, free, but the permanent fix is not expected until April 2027. Interim letters mail August 3 to 7. Ford customer service: 1-866-436-7332, recall 26S48.

Sili Factory pull-string teething toy recalled over choking

Aojieni Silicone is recalling about 5,918 Sili Factory Pull String Teething Toys because the silicone strings are smaller and longer than the mandatory toy standard permits and can reach the back of a child's throat and lodge there, posing what CPSC calls "a serious risk of respiratory distress and deadly choking hazard."

What it is. A pink disc with a pink center ball and five multi-colored silicone tentacle pull strings, plus seven soft push buttons. "Sili Factory" and "Pulling Toy" are printed on the front of the packaging, batch number DS250238 on the back. Sold on Amazon.com from May 2025 through April 2026 for $11 to $15. CPSC is aware of one report of the strings reaching the back of a child's throat, causing gagging. No injuries have been reported.

What to do. Take it away from children immediately and contact Aojieni Silicone at info@silifactory.com for a full refund. Cut all the silicone strings, write "RECALLED" on the body in permanent marker, send a photo, and dispose of it. This is at least the fifth pull-string teething toy of this exact design CPSC has pulled this year, after LiKee, GOPO, Tiyol, and CuddleCubs, all sold on Amazon.

Also today from CPSC

CPSC warned consumers to stop using Mikrdoo children's pajama sets, sold on Amazon from August 2025 through May 2026 for $18 to $20, because they violate the mandatory sleepwear flammability standard and pose a burn risk. The seller, Foshan Jiarui Baby Clothing of China, has not agreed to a recall, so there is no refund: stop using them and dispose of them, and do not pass them on.

CPSC also recalled about 670 Sviyatp pool drain covers, sold on Amazon from March through June 2026 for about $18, because they violate the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and pose a deadly entrapment and drowning hazard. No incidents reported. Pool owners should stop using the pool, remove the cover (model SV-SP1030-001), mark it "RECALL," and email SviyatpRecall@qq.com for a refund.

Tracking

Cyclospora / Taylor Farms lettuce. No new case count since Tuesday's Michigan tally of 6,571 patients. The FDA's outbreak table, updated July 23, added a separate, second Cyclospora outbreak (reference #1392) with no product identified yet, plus new Salmonella Javiana and Listeria investigations. The Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce recall across 15 Walmart Marketside states and 27 foodservice states still stands. Do not eat recalled bags (Best if Used By July 18 through August 3); return them to Walmart for a refund at 1-800-925-6278.
Kia Telluride fire. 462,869 2020-2024 Tellurides, park outside and away from structures until the electronic fuse is installed, owner letters August 13, VINs live on NHTSA.gov since July 17. This replaces the 2024 fix that did not hold. Kia: 1-800-333-4542.
Clover Hill soft cheese listeria. 12 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, 1 death (Maryland), unchanged since late June. La Ceiba requeson (La Colonia / Selectos Latinos brands) expired July 10, so throw it out if any is still in your fridge. Cheese may have been repacked under Kesso, Quesos la Ricura, Izalco, De mi Pueblo, or Rio Lindo.
Nara Organics infant formula botulism. Holds at four hospitalized infants (two California, one Pennsylvania, one Washington), no new cases in over a month. Recall of June 13 covers all lots sold at Target and Nara.com from July 2025 through June 2026.
California Dairies powdered milk salmonella. Now in its fourth month. The original April 20 recall of 2.7 million pounds of nonfat dry milk has cascaded to eight-plus downstream brands including Zapp's and Dirty chips, Ghirardelli mixes, and Motor City Pizza 5 Cheese Bread. Zero illnesses reported.