“Cricket EZ” Cell Phones Recalled; Audio Problem Interferes with Emergency 911 Calls
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Date: | May 20 2008 |
Name of Products: | “Cricket EZ” Cellular Phones |
Units: | About 285,000 |
Manufacturer: | Distributed by Cricket Communications, of San Diego, Calif. (subsidiary of Leap Wireless International Inc.) |
Hazard: | A software problem with the cell phones causes audio problems with 911 calls. When a call is connected to 911, the operator may not hear the caller or the caller may not hear the 911 operator. |
Incidents/Injuries: | Cricket has received two reports of the audio not working properly when a consumer placed a call to 911. No injuries were reported. |
Description: | This recall involves the “Cricket EZ” cellular phone. The cell phones are small, black and silver bar-style. “Cricket” is printed on top of the phone above the display panel. Model number “CRKJ88BKIT” is located on a label inside the battery compartment behind the battery. Units that have a model number that ends with a “B” (“CRKJ88BKITB”), units that have a green dot on the inside label, and units that were sold after March 2008 are not included in this recall. |
Product # / SKU: | Model number “CRKJ88BKIT” |
Sold at: | Cricket stores and independent dealers nationwide from February 2008 through March 2008 for about $90. |
Manufactured in: | China |
Remedy: | Consumers should immediately return their phone to Cricket for a free software repair. Cricket is directly contacting consumers who purchased these cell phones to alert them to the recall. |
Consumer Contact: | Cricket |