Goodbye to these Costco products
The email subject line read “Important Safety Recall – Action Required”. Inside, Costco told members to unplug an Anker PowerCore 10000 battery pack because the lithium cells could overheat and catch fire.
If that notice landed in your inbox, you’re not alone. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says more than one million of those pocket-size chargers have now been officially recalled. And the Anker isn’t the only Costco find you should send back.
Electronics on the hot seat
Portable power packs aren’t the sole fire-and-burn culprit. Ninja Foodi OP300-series pressure cookers (1.8 million of them) can pop their lids while still pressurised. The CPSC links the defect to 106 burn injuries, over fifty of them second- or third-degree. Costco’s recall page now blocks those item numbers at checkout, but thousands still sit in home kitchens.
Summer shoppers loved the Midea “U-shaped” window air-conditioner because it let the window close nearly flush. Turns out that sleek frame trapped water, sprouting mold that can inflame lungs. The June recall covers 1.7 million units sold under.
Meanwhile the ubiquitous Igloo 90 Qt Flip & Tow rolling cooler looks harmless—until you tow it. More than a million handles can pinch fingers hard enough to fracture or amputate. If yours was made before 2024, Igloo will ship a free replacement handle.
Trouble on the road
Costco’s tire bays got twin jolts this spring. Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tires in size 185/60R15C flunked a federal endurance test; chunks can tear off the shoulder at highway speed.
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 235/40R19 tires skipped a tiny but vital detail—the DOT stamp—meaning drivers might install them on vehicles the government never approved. Both brands offer free swaps.
Fitness gear that fights back
The adjustable dumbbells that keep your garage gym tidy are now a liability. BowFlex SelectTech 552 and 1090 sets have weight plates that can slip off mid-lift. The recall spans 3.8 million units and follows 111 injury reports ranging from concussions to broken toes. Johnson Health Tech, which bought BowFlex this year, will issue vouchers or replacements.
When food isn’t safe
Not all recalls involve hardware. Coca-Cola yanked Topo Chico mineral water 18-packs from 40 Costco depots in Texas, Louisiana and three other states after tests found Pseudomonas bacteria. The bug is usually harmless but can endanger people with weak immune systems.
Separately, Fresh & Ready Foods pulled 86 sandwiches and salads from Business Centers in four western states because of possible Listeria, a germ deadly to seniors and pregnant women.
How Costco breaks the bad news
The silver lining is that Costco’s recall machine kicks in fast: product IDs are blocked at the register; emails and app banners go out within 24 hours; and the public recall portal is updated daily. If you bought through Costco Next, the vendor emails you directly and Costco posts the notice for visibility.
The only thing left to do is rely on word of mouth: talk to friends and relatives about recalls that might affect them, so the message spreads and products can be sent back on time.
Sam’s Club and Walmart share many of the same suppliers and have mirrored recall notices for the Anker power bank, BowFlex dumbbells, Ninja cookers and Topo Chico water. Club-store scale means one faulty component can ripple across millions of households overnight.
Recalled products on the rise
CPSC data show consumer-product recalls up 12 percent year-over-year, driven by lithium-ion batteries, connected appliances and quick-turn food production. Costco’s vast SKU mix and rapid-fire Costco Next marketplace give members access to more brands—and, inevitably, more potential hiccups.
Costco’s generous return policy may ease the sting, but safety trumps savings. Scan the recall list before your next haul, check that garage shelf for suspect gadgets, and think twice about opening that handy rolling cooler until its handle gets an upgrade. The deals will keep coming; your peace of mind depends on keeping the dangerous ones out of the cart.
