How to Check If a Product Is Recalled (US, Canada and UK)
Recalls only protect you if you hear about them. Here's how to search official databases, match your exact model and claim a refund, repair or replacement.
To check if a product is recalled in the US, search the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall list at CPSC.gov/Recalls using the brand, product type and model number printed on the item’s label. In Canada, use the Government of Canada’s Recalls and Safety Alerts site, and in the UK, the GOV.UK product safety alerts, reports and recalls list. If your product matches, stop using it and follow the remedy in the recall notice exactly.
Vacuums, space heaters, dehumidifiers, pressure washers, chargers, kids’ gear and cleaning products all get recalled from time to time. Most recalls are announced quietly, so a regular check of your bigger appliances is worth a few minutes.
What you need
- The brand name and product type
- The model number, and if possible the serial number and date code (usually on a sticker underneath, on the back, inside a door or on the power cord tag)
- Your phone, to photograph the label
- A receipt or proof of purchase, if you have it (often not required)
United States: CPSC
Step by step
- Find the label. Write down or photograph the brand, model and any date or serial code.
- Search CPSC.gov/Recalls. Try the brand plus product type (for example, “brand name dehumidifier”). Then narrow by model.
- Read the notice carefully. Each recall covers specific brands, models and often date ranges or serial numbers. If yours falls outside them, it isn’t part of the recall.
- Check the remedy. The notice says what to do and how to contact the company, usually by a toll-free number or website.
- Stop using the product if the notice says so, even while you wait for the remedy.
Other US agencies handle other products: cars, car seats and tires go through NHTSA, food through USDA FSIS or the FDA, and medicines and many personal care items through the FDA. CPSC covers most household products, appliances, toys and furniture.
SaferProducts.gov
SaferProducts.gov is run by the CPSC. You can search reports others have filed about a product and file your own report if something you own caused an injury or a near-miss. A report there is not a recall, but it helps the agency spot problems. CPSC’s hotline is (800) 638-2772.
Sign up for alerts
CPSC offers email updates on new recalls. It’s an easy way to hear about problems without remembering to search.
Registration cards: worth filling in
Product registration lets a manufacturer contact you directly if there’s a recall. For durable infant and toddler products, such as cribs, high chairs, strollers, play yards and swings, US rules require manufacturers to include a registration card and offer online registration, so filling it in is especially worthwhile for baby gear. For appliances, register on the maker’s website using the model and serial number. A real registration asks for contact and product details only; be wary of any “registration” that asks for payment or unrelated personal information.
Canada: Recalls and Safety Alerts
The Government of Canada publishes recalls and safety alerts from Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Transport Canada on its Recalls and Safety Alerts website. Search by product or brand, or filter by category such as consumer products. Each entry gives the affected products, the hazard and what consumers should do.
United Kingdom: OPSS
In the UK, the Office for Product Safety and Standards publishes a searchable list on GOV.UK called product safety alerts, reports and recalls. It covers three types of entry: recalls of specific products sold in the UK, safety reports where other corrective action was taken, and wider safety alerts about product categories. You can filter by category and risk level and subscribe to updates. Food, vehicles and medicines have separate lists from the Food Standards Agency, the DVSA and the MHRA.
Australia
Australian readers can search the national Product Safety Australia recalls site run by the ACCC.
What recall remedies look like
| Remedy | What it usually means | What you may need |
|---|---|---|
| Refund | Full or partial refund, sometimes a gift card or credit | Model or serial number, sometimes a photo of the product or proof it was disabled |
| Repair | A free fix kit sent to you, or a free repair by a technician | Model and contact details |
| Replacement | A new or corrected unit or part, such as a new charger or cord | Return of the old part, or proof of disposal |
| New instructions or labels | Updated warnings or safe-use guidance | Nothing, but read them |
| Dispose | Instructions on how to throw it away safely | Follow the notice; don’t resell or donate it |
The exact remedy is set in each notice. Many recalls don’t require an original receipt and have no end date, but follow whatever the notice says. Never sell, donate or give away a recalled item.
Check these items regularly
- Space heaters, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and air purifiers
- Cordless vacuums, robot vacuums and their chargers and batteries
- Pressure washers, steam mops and carpet cleaners
- Washers, dryers and dishwashers; see dryer vent cleaning for an important fire-safety habit
- Pre-lit Christmas trees and light sets, before each season; see cleaning an artificial tree
- Cribs, high chairs and other baby gear, including second-hand items
- Cleaning products with child-resistant packaging, such as laundry pods
Bottom line
Find the model number, search the official recall database for your country, and compare the notice carefully. If your product is included, stop using it and claim the remedy from the company listed. Register new appliances and baby gear so the maker can reach you.
FAQ
Do I need a receipt to get a recall remedy?
Often not, though the company may ask for a photo, the serial number or proof the product was disabled. The notice explains what’s needed.
Can I still get a remedy for an old recall?
Usually yes; many recalls have no end date. Contact the company listed in the notice, and if you can’t reach it, contact CPSC.
What if I bought the product second-hand?
Recall remedies generally apply to the product, not the original buyer. Check the notice and contact the company.
Does a SaferProducts.gov report mean a product is recalled?
No. Reports are consumer accounts. Only an official recall notice means the product is recalled.
