The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Columbia Sportswear Company, of Portland, Oregon announced on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, a voluntary recall of the Omni-Heat Lithium-Polymer Rechargeable Batteries. About 66 batteries (33 jackets with two battery packs each) were sold that are being recalled. The batteries have a cell defect which can cause overheating, posing a fire hazard. The firm received one report of an overheating battery in Europe. No incidents or injuries were reported in the U.S. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
This recall involves battery packs that power heating systems in jackets. The black battery packs are 3.25 inches long by 2.3 inches wide by 0.7 inches deep and marked with "Columbia" on the top and "OMNI-HEAT" on the bottom of the pack. Part number 054978-001 is printed on the side of the battery label.
Two battery packs were included with styles from:
- Fall 2011 Mens: Electro Amp Jacket (SM7864) and Circuit Breaker Softshell (SM7855)
- Fall 2011 Womens: Circuit Breaker Softshell (SL7856); Snow Hottie Jacket (SL7866), and Snow Hottie Parka (SL7853).
The recalled battery packs were sold with Columbia electric jackets sold by Columbia online and at Columbia Sportswear stores in the cities and states listed below between September and November 2012 for about $260.
The nine Columbia Sportswear outlets that carried the jackets with battery packs are located in:
- Sunrise, Florida 33304
- Wrentham, Massachusetts 02093
- Birch Run, Michigan 48415-9496
- Albertville, Minnesota 55301
- Central Valley, New York 10917
- Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
- Grove City, Pennsylvania 16127
- Park City, Utah 84098
- Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158-1705
Consumers should immediately check the battery packs included with the electric jacket to determine if they are part of the recall. Those with affected batteries should immediately remove the affected battery pack(s) from the jacket and contact Columbia Sportswear for a free replacement. Columbia Sportswear Company can be contacted at (800) 622-6953 from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. PT, by email at Columbia@custhelp.com, or visit the firm's website at www.Columbia.com/Recall.
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