Mattel Recalls Pixar CARS Sarge Diecast Metal Car

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According to CNN today, Mattel is recalling several toys manufactured in China including the “Sarge” die cast toys from the Pixar “Cars” movie assortment because of hazardous lead paint.

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The recalled Sarge Cars were sold individually and in assortment packs in retail stores nationwide from May 2007 to August 2007 with the markings “7EA” and “China” on the bottom. The Sarge toy car was sold alone or in a package of two. Packaging materials may contain the product numbers M1253 for single Sarge cars, and K5925 for Sarge cars sold as part of a two car sets.  The cars marked “Thailand” are not included in this recall.

The Sarge toy was produced by Early Light Industrial Co., one of Mattel’s contract manufacturing facilities in China, which subcontracted the painting of parts of the toy to another vendor, Hong Li Da, also in China.

The car is an Army green color and features a white star on the hood. Surface paint on affected products contains lead in excess of permissible levels.

Watch the CEO of Mattel go into damage control here.

You need to return the product to obtain a replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Mattel at (800) 916-4997 anytime or visit the Sarge specific recall page.

Of course, if you’re just joining the Mattel Pixar CARS collection frenzy, don’t forget to read our posts & checklists of what’s out and what’s coming out.

EMAIL FROM MATTEL ….

“Thank you for contacting Mattel regarding your Sarge Die Cast Toy. We apologize for any disappointment or concern this may have caused and thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

The subject of children’s safety is extremely important to us, and we have built our reputation on providing high quality, safe products. Please be assured that we have forwarded your comments to the appropriate individuals. To complete an evaluation, it is important that we have the opportunity to examine your Sarge Vehicle.

We have included a traceable, pre-paid United States Postal Service mailing label for the return of your item. The maximum size of the package must be less than 108 inches total. The total is calculated by doubling the package height, plus double the package width plus the length. The length is the longest side of the package. To ensure your package is received by us quickly, please take your package to your local post office to receive a round date stamp on your merchandise return mailing acknowledgement or online e-label record (included on bottom half of mailing label).

This confirmation stamp is provided by the postal service at no cost to you. Packages dropped at a mail box or collection box are not scanned prior to delivery and may delay the return of your package.

Please return the Sarge Vehicle to us within 14 days. Upon receipt of your returned package, a voucher in the amount of $7.00 will be sent within 3 to 4 weeks. If your product is still within the service policy and if the purchase price is more than this amount, it is necessary to include your original sales receipt showing the retail store name, the product name, the purchase price and date.

We appreciate this opportunity to assist you.

Sincerely,

Mattel, Inc.
Consumer Relations”

14 Comments

Filed under Advertising, Marketing, Toys

14 responses to “Mattel Recalls Pixar CARS Sarge Diecast Metal Car

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  2. John B Norris

    I have been collecting the `Cars` models and have most of them except `Sarge` which never appeared in local stores. How can I obtain a lead free or even a leadpainted example?. I am an adult and do not handle or suck on the models I collect.

    (METROXING: Start checking the stores in late September – hopefully, everything will be back – if not by them – send me an email at metroxing (at) gmail.com – I think I have an extra old Sarge (lead-free version), I have to go look for it).

  3. jamie

    where can we buy a sarge without having to go to ebay or internet sales?

    (METROXING: No word on when regular SARGE is returning but Pit Crew Sarge will e out in a few weeks).

  4. jamie

    Thanks for the reply but you are telling me a few weeks about pit crew sarge and I read a posting somewhere that it will not be out until 2008. Can u please verify because I have an eager 9 and 6 year old who are anxious for Sarge.

    (METROXING: It is odd that SARGE is gone this long but I suppose Mattel needs the 400k replacemet ones completed first … And yes, Pit Crew SARGE is not due until January but Mattel is still learning this thing we call a calendar … so it could be out in December and it could be out in February or March … which to most anyone under 14, sounds like adults are just too lazy to buy it …

    YOU: That costs too much.
    KID: Why don’t we just go to the ATM.

    I wish I could give you a definite answer but it’s Mattel!)

  5. Harry B

    A few days after Mattel announced them Recal, my local store stopped stocking ALL of there cars stock and haven’t started restocking from about today

  6. Harry B

    I have got 2 Sarges (loose) I got one in June 06 and got a second one in a Sarge and Fillmore pack because i couldn’t find a fillmore seperately

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  10. Sarah

    Any idea when we will be able to buy sarge again? My son’s birthday is approaching and he is desperate for this one to complete the collection

    (METROXING: Yes, pretty odd but other than eBay, nothing yet now that Mattel has changed the configurations – unsure now – maybe we’ll know in a couple weeks).

  11. Richard

    I have a supposed “recalled” sarge. My son plays with it, but he doesnt suck it…..is it hazardous still?

    (METROXING: I think the problem is no one knows how much lead is on in/in it – honestly, I think the real lead danger is prolonged exposure or swallowing large amounts of paint chips so in reality, as long as it’s not in his mouth, it should be okay and to be safer – to wash his hands after but I’m not scientest or doctor so I’m not really qualified to say 100% :-/ … maybe you can apply a layer of clear spray paint to seal it? … Because really, we have a lot of other things floating around in our atmosphere, ground and water (there was a study linking Parkinson’s to pesticides the other day) so what’s the line between total safety and prudent? …)

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  13. John

    When is Mattel going to be reselling the Sarge’s?

    Also, Will the Apple i-car be sold again looking exactly the same? because I just bought one for a hundred bucks. I thought it was a limited edition.

    thanks MET!

    (MET: Maybe Sarge will return in a WM Cube this fall? Hard to explain why it hasn’t come back yet … as for the Apple Car, here’s our thoughts).

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