Name of Product: “Cricket EZ” Cellular Phones
Units: About 285,000
Distributor: 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.
Sold by: 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: For additional information, contact Cricket toll-free at (866) 441-1577 between 6 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. MT Monday through Saturday, and between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. MT on Sunday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.mycricket.com
Source: CPSC