Hearth Record

CPSC, Alpha International Announce Recall of Pedal Cars

Home product recall 02-104. Announced by CPSC on Feb 20, 2002.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Feb 20, 2002. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The paint coating on some of these pedal cars contains high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children’s products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest the lead from the car’s paint coating, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

Consumers should take these pedal cars away from young children immediately.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: The firm is out of business. Consumers should call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).

Which ones are recalled?

There are 17 models of the pedal cars included in the recall. Models include three fire trucks, four police cars, eight sedans, one yellow taxi, and one dump truck. Model names are listed below: Fire Trucks: “Fire Truck,” “John Deere” and “Texaco.” Police Cars: “NYPD,” “Chicago Police,” “Highway Patrol” and “EMERGENCY 911.” Sedans: pink “Champion,” blue “Champion,” “Texaco,” “John Deere,” “Citgo,” “Raley’s Coca-Cola,” “Raley’s Keebler,” and “Red Lion.” All of the pedal cars are made of metal and come in a variety of colors. Most of the cars have a “Gearbox” logo on the seat back, the hubcaps, and/or the pedals.

About 75,000 units, as CPSC gives them.

Pedal Car.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

CPSC’s photos

CPSC shows 2 photos on its notice. Hearth Record doesn’t copy them; each opens on cpsc.gov.

Who made and sold it?

  • Imported by Alpha International Inc., also known as Gearbox Pedal Car Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
  • The two “Raley’s” cars were sold exclusively at Raley’s supermarkets, from July 2000 through December 2000. Department, toy, and specialty/collectible stores sold all of the other pedal cars, from November 1999 through January 2002, for between $100 and $500.
  • Made in South Korea, as the notice gives it.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

Alpha International has not received any reports of injuries involving these pedal cars. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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