Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat massagers and vibrators

1 report to CPSC, the latest made Aug 20, 2014. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

1report to CPSC
Aug 20, 2014the latest report was made
Aug 20, 2014the earliest
1with the company’s comments

Brand: Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat
Maker: HOMEDICS, INC.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: Massagers and vibratorsCPSC’s product type: Massage Devices or Vibrators (code 1610), in Personal Care: Comfort & Relaxation

By month

1 report from September 2013 to August 2014; the most in August 2014, 1.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
August 2014	1

How badly anyone was hurt

Seen by a doctor or nurse 1 CPSC: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

Seen by a doctor or nurse
Made Aug 20, 2014, sent to the company Aug 28, 2014, published by CPSC Sep 12, 2014

The product, in the report: Product is marketed by HoMedics as a “deep-kneading massage for your neck, shoulders, back, or anywhere you need it.” HoMedics Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat Model 198459 Black in color

On April 20, 2013, I used the Shiatsu Massage Pillow with heat, Model 198459. I set the Shiatsu Massage Pillow at the top of a stack of inclined pillows on my bed. My neck was gently resting on the pillow. Less than 10 minutes into the massage, my neck started to burn. When I reached back to feel my neck, I was horrified to find a quarter size area of skin had been removed. I had a difficult time sleeping from the excruciating pain and mental anguish.
In the morning, the pain became worse and the abrasion started to ooze and bleed. l could not turn my neck from left to right or look up or down without opening the abrasion. My physician recommended that l continue to apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent an infection. During that time, I experienced immense pain, redness. swelling, oozing of fluid, and mental anguish. It took the abrasion over 3 weeks to heal.
One year later, I have a scar.

Model
198459
Bought from
gift - purchased at store, California
Bought
Dec 20, 2011, about then
Where
San Bernardino, California: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 40, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Self
As this report names them
Brand Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat, made or sold by HOMEDICS, INC.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

The company’s comments, in its own words

(9/11/2014) HOMEDICS, INC.: September 11, 2014 VIA WEB-SITE RESPONSE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Re: 20140820-E13E8-1424060 CPSC Report
To Whom It May Concern,
This is in response to the notice dated August 28, 2014, regarding a report received by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (hereinafter “the Commission”) on August 20, 2014, which allegedly concerns a HoMedics Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat, Model No. 198459.
In the report, the consumer indicates that the product at issue was purchased on or around December of 2011. The consumer alleges that after resting her neck against the massage pillow for less than ten (10) minutes, her neck began to burn and that when she reached back to feel her neck, “a quarter size area of skin had been removed.” As indicated in the report, the consumer is alleging that she suffered “excruciating pain and mental anguish” and has a scar from the incident.
The consumer contacted HoMedics regarding this incident on April 21, 2013 – over a year prior to filing this report. The consumer admitted to HoMedics that she had a “stiff” neck prior to use of the massage pillow, an important detail omitted from the Commission’s report. A HoMedics representative spoke with the consumer regarding the incident and requested that the consumer return the allegedly defective product, along with all accessory components, for further investigation and provided the consumer with a prepaid shipping label. However, the consumer failed to return the product to HoMedics and did not contact HoMedics again for over a year. On April 23, 2014, the consumer contacted HoMedics again regarding this incident. At which point, HoMedics requested, on several occasions, that the allegedly defective product be returned for examination and inspection in accordance with its established policies and procedures. In response to HoMedics requests, the consumer admitted to having possession of the unit, but refused to turn it over to HoMedics for review.
As discussed above, the consumer alleges that the massage pillow caused her injury. The consumer fails to provide any additional information concerning the circumstances surrounding and leading up to the incident. However, from the limited information and statements provided to both the Commission and HoMedics, it appears that the consumer may have improperly used the unit. In particular, the consumer admits that she had a stiff neck, which is a well-known medical condition, prior to use of the product. HoMedics specifically cautions against use of its product for treatment of medical conditions and explicitly states in its instruction manual that its product “is not intended for medical use . . .[and] is intended only to provide a luxurious massage.” Moreover, HoMedics products are never to be used “directly on swollen or inflamed areas,” where inflammation is known to be a common symptom of a stiff neck. Regardless, HoMedics makes every effort to work with consumers on any issues they may have with our products. As is clearly stated in our product instruction manuals, any HoMedics product that is damaged or not working properly should be returned to HoMedics for examination and/or repair.
Accordingly, our ability to comment on the allegations made in the report is very limited because this allegedly defective product cannot be tested and evaluated as the consumer has possession of the unit and has yet to return the unit to HoMedics for testing and further investigation. Since we are unable to ascertain whether this product was used in accordance with its instructions and warnings, and in fact, it appears from the limited information provided, the product may have been improperly used, the allegations contained in this complaint are inconclusive.
If the Commission would like a sample of a HoMedics Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat, Model No. 198459, please let us know. We would be happy to provide one.

CPSC report 20140820-E13E8-1424060. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Shiatsu Massage Pillow with Heat massagers and vibrators

At a glance

By month

How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources

How to read a record

Every fact names its source.

A number never stands alone.

What needs attention is marked.

The public record comes first.