To file a CPSC recall complaint, submit a report at SaferProducts.gov, the federal portal run by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can also file by phone at (800) 638-2772, by email, by fax, or by postal mail. The report takes about 15 minutes online if you have the product’s brand, model number, purchase details, and a description of what went wrong ready to go.
Confirm the CPSC Handles Your Product
The CPSC covers household goods: furniture, toys, appliances, tools, children’s products, clothing, and electronics used in or around a home, school, or recreation setting. That scope comes from the Consumer Product Safety Act, which sweeps in items produced or distributed for consumer use in those environments.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 2052 – Definitions If you bought the item at a normal retailer and use it at home, the CPSC almost certainly has jurisdiction.
Several categories go to other agencies, and the CPSC will not forward a misfiled report automatically:1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 2052 – Definitions
- Motor vehicles, tires, and car seats go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.2National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Report a Vehicle Safety Problem, Equipment Issue
- Food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices go to the Food and Drug Administration at fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda.3U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Report a Problem to the FDA
- Pesticides and chemicals labeled as pesticides go to the Environmental Protection Agency at epa.gov/pesticide-incidents.4U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Reporting Unintended Exposure and Harm From Pesticides (Incidents)
- Firearms and ammunition fall under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The CPSC still handles gun safes, gun locks, airsoft guns, and toy guns.5Consumer Product Safety Commission. Products Under the Jurisdiction of Other Federal Agencies
- Boats and marine equipment go to the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Aircraft go to the Federal Aviation Administration.
If you are not sure where a product fits, the CPSC keeps a full routing list at cpsc.gov that maps product types to the correct agency.5Consumer Product Safety Commission. Products Under the Jurisdiction of Other Federal Agencies
What to Have Ready
Getting everything in front of you before you start prevents an incomplete report. You will want:
- Product identifiers: brand name, model name, and model number, usually printed on the base, back panel, or packaging. Include a serial number if there is one.
- Purchase details: roughly when you bought it and where (store name or website). A receipt helps but is not required.
- An incident description: what happened, when, and where (indoors, outdoors, garage). Focus on what broke, overheated, shattered, or failed, and any injuries. Stick to what you observed rather than guessing at the cause.
- Photos: clear pictures of the defect, any damage, and the product label showing model and serial numbers. Close-ups of broken parts help investigators.
- Manufacturer contact information: the company name and customer service number or address from the packaging, if you have it. This helps the CPSC route the notification.
You do not need the product tested, diagnosed, or professionally examined first. The CPSC prefers raw reports quickly. If an investigator later needs to inspect the item, they will ask you to hold onto it.
Filing Online at SaferProducts.gov
Go to SaferProducts.gov and choose the option to file a report.6SaferProducts. SaferProducts.gov The form moves you through a few screens:
- Product information: brand, product type, model number, and where you bought it.
- Incident details: describe what happened in the narrative box. Plain language works best. “The handle broke off and hot liquid spilled on my child’s arm” is more useful than “product malfunctioned.”
- Injuries and dates: who was hurt, their age (especially for children), and when the incident happened.
- Attachments: upload photos and any supporting documents like a receipt.
- Your contact information: name, email, and phone, so CPSC staff can follow up if they need more detail.
Review each screen before submitting. The system generates a confirmation once you submit. Save it. The report number is your reference for anything that comes later.
Other Ways to File
If you would rather not use the website, the CPSC accepts reports through several other channels:7SaferProducts. Public Incident Reporting – SaferProducts.gov
- Phone: call the CPSC hotline at (800) 638-2772, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. A teletypewriter line is available at (800) 638-8270.8Consumer Product Safety Commission. For Consumers Contacted by a CPSC Investigator
- Email: download the printable form from SaferProducts.gov, fill it out in Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 9.0 or later), and send it to clearinghouse@cpsc.gov.
- Postal mail: send the completed form to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Attn: Reports, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.
- Fax: send the completed form to (855) 221-6466, toll-free.
Phone and online reports draw the fastest response. Paper and email submissions go through the same clearinghouse but do not give you an instant confirmation.
Will Your Name Be Public
No. Your name and contact information never appear on SaferProducts.gov. The agency publishes the product details and incident description but strips personal identifiers before anything goes live. The CPSC shares your name with the manufacturer only if you give explicit written permission during filing.9Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Privacy and Security Notice
So you can file without expecting calls from the company unless you opt in. If you do allow contact, the manufacturer may reach out directly to offer a remedy or gather more detail.
What Happens After You Submit
The CPSC transmits your report to the manufacturer or private labeler you named. Under the Consumer Product Safety Act’s Section 6(b) disclosure rules, the manufacturer gets at least 10 calendar days (13 if notified by mail) to review the report and submit comments before it is released publicly.10eCFR. 16 CFR Part 1101 – Information Disclosure Under Section 6(b) If the manufacturer claims the report is materially inaccurate, the CPSC evaluates that claim. Absent a finding of inaccuracy, the report goes live in the public database on the 10th business day after transmission.11eCFR. 16 CFR 1102.26 – Determination of Materially Inaccurate Information
During that window, staff also compare your report with existing data to see if other consumers have flagged the same problem. A single report rarely triggers a recall on its own. A cluster pointing at the same defect builds the case for agency action. Investigators may contact you for more detail or ask you to preserve the product for physical examination.
Not every complaint leads to a recall. The CPSC may find the product does not present an unreasonable risk, or that the issue is isolated. Even then, your report stays in the public database and contributes to the safety record. A product that draws scattered complaints over years may eventually cross the threshold that triggers formal action, and your early report becomes part of that record.