Hearth Record

Back Massage Cushions Recalled by Conair & Sears Roebuck

Home product recall 98-103. Announced by CPSC on May 4, 1998.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on May 4, 1998. 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?

Burn - Not Fire-Related

Source:

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

What should you do?

The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.

Source:

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

Which ones are recalled?

Back Massage Cushions Recalled by Conair & Sears Roebuck NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 1998 Release # 98-103 Company Phone Number: (800) 456-5010 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Mark Ross, (301) 504-7076 CPSC, Conair Corp. and Sears Roebuck and Co. Announce Recall of Back Massage Cushions WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Conair Corp., of Stamford, Conn., and Sears Roebuck and Co., of Hoffman Estates, Ill., are recalling about 183,000 back massage cushions. The motors used in these back massage cushions can stall, overheat and possibly burn through the massage cushion. While there have been no reports of fires or serious injury, CPSC, Conair and Sears have received 13 reports of damage to upholstered furniture and bedding, and two reports of minor burns to consumers. The massage cushion, identified as the Sears Health Essentials Back Massaging System with Heat, Model SR4503, is a black, padded cushion approximately 21 inches long and 17 inches wide, and comes with a handheld controller. The handheld controller displays the words, “Health Essentials” on the front panel and the words “Sears SR4503” on the back panel. The back massage cushion, manufactured by Conair, was sold in Sears stores and catalogs from February 1997 through March 1998 for about $30. Consumers should stop using the back massage cushions immediately and return them to any Sears department store for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call (800) 456-5010 anytime.

Sears Health Essentials Back Massaging System with Heat.

Source:

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

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Conair.
  • Made by Sears.
  • Made by Health Essentials.
Source:

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

Was anyone hurt?

The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.

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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