Consumers often assume that if a product is dangerous, it will be quickly removed from the market. Unfortunately, recent data suggests otherwise.
According to a new consumer safety report, product recalls reached their highest level since 2007, with 420 recalls issued in 2025 and hundreds of injuries linked to recalled products. While those numbers are concerning, they reveal an even more troubling reality: many consumers are injured months or even years before a recall is announced.
When a product is recalled, it is easy to assume that regulators or manufacturers acted as soon as a problem was discovered. In many cases, however, warning signs emerge long before a recall occurs.
The report highlighted a pressure cooker recall involving more than two million units. Consumer complaints and injury reports allegedly surfaced years before the product was ultimately recalled. According to investigators, consumers reported severe burns and other injuries, yet the product remained on the market while complaints accumulated.
This pattern is not unique. Product recalls often occur only after manufacturers, regulators, or consumer safety agencies receive sufficient reports demonstrating a widespread hazard. By that time, many consumers may have already suffered preventable injuries.
Consumers frequently rely on the assumption that products sold in stores or online have been thoroughly vetted for safety. While many products are safe, recalls demonstrate that dangerous defects can slip through the cracks.
While it is a manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure that the products sold to consumers are safe, the product recall process does not consistently prevent injuries caused by defective products, and there are steps consumers can take to assess product safety before making a purchase.
Before purchasing products—particularly children’s products, appliances, electronics, pressure cookers, furniture, and other household items—consumers should take time to:
Consumer advocates also caution that online marketplaces can create additional challenges when it comes to accountability and product oversight.
Many recalls begin with individual consumers reporting injuries or safety concerns. When consumers fail to report dangerous incidents, regulators and manufacturers may not recognize patterns that indicate a widespread defect.
Reporting product failures, injuries, overheating incidents, fires, or other safety concerns – including close calls – can help identify dangerous products before additional consumers are harmed. Consumer safety experts recommend regularly reviewing recall notices and reporting problems when they occur.
A recall announcement does not create the defect—it merely acknowledges it. In many product liability cases, evidence may show that manufacturers knew or should have known about a dangerous condition long before a recall was issued.
For injured consumers, the timing of a recall can be significant. Regardless of whether a product was previously recalled, individuals injured by a defective product may still have legal rights. Likewise, a recall issued after an injury can serve as important evidence in investigating whether a product manufacturer failed to act promptly in addressing known safety risks.
When manufacturers place unsafe products into the marketplace, the consequences can be devastating. From defective appliances and household products to dangerous children’s products and consumer goods, injuries caused by product defects can lead to significant medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term harm.
Galfand Berger attorneys have spent decades representing individuals injured by defective and dangerous products. We understand how product recalls develop, how manufacturers respond to safety complaints, and how to investigate whether a preventable injury could have been avoided.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, it is important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible to protect your rights and determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. Call our firm for a free consultation at 1-800-222-8792 or by email at [email protected].
At Galfand Berger, our personal injury attorneys have been pursuing justice for injured victims throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey for nearly 80 years.
