The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·22111·Announced 2022-03-31

Universal Security Instruments 2-in-1 Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Recalled for Failure to Alert

Universal Security Instruments is recalling about 8,000 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that may fail to alert consumers to dangerous carbon monoxide levels. Two units have been reported to fail the alarm function, though no injuries have been reported.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The hazard involves carbon monoxide, a high-risk threat to health and safety. Although no illnesses or injuries have been reported, the source explicitly states the risk includes "carbon monoxide poisoning or death," and two failure-to-alert units have been documented. This meets the criterion for High severity: a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Universal Security Instruments Inc. is recalling approximately 8,000 units of 2-in-1 Photoelectric Smoke & Fire + Carbon Monoxide Alarms. The recalled products are Model MPC322S (battery-powered with 10-year sealed batteries, manufacturing date code 2017JUN09) and Model MPC122S (hardwired with 10-year sealed battery backup, manufacturing date code 2017JUN02). The brand name "UNIVERSAL SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, INC." or "USI ELECTRIC" appears on the front of the alarms.

The alarms can fail to alert consumers to the presence of hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or death. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. Universal Security Instruments has received two reports of units that failed to alarm for the presence of carbon monoxide within the specified time requirement. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled alarms were sold through electrical distributors nationwide and online at Walmart.com and other websites from June 2017 through December 2019 for between $50 and $80.

Consumers should immediately contact Universal Security Instruments for a free replacement alarm at 877-220-0046 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday), or visit https://www.universalsecurity.com/reg-form-2022/alert or www.universalsecurity.com and click on "Important Recall Information." Until replacement alarms are installed, consumers should continue using the recalled alarms.

The recalled product

Product
2-in-1 Photoelectric Smoke & Fire + Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Manufacturer
Universal Security Instruments Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland
Category
Consumer Product — Home Safety / Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Hazard
  • carbon-monoxide-failure-to-alert
  • poisoning
  • carbon-monoxide
Affected units
8,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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