Costco shoppers all over the United States realize some of the most common things in their homes could be unsafe. In the past few weeks, a shocking number of everyday products have been recalled by companies for safety reasons.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 152 people have reported mold in certain air conditioners, with 17 needing to see a doctor for breathing problems.
There have already been more product recalls in 2025 than in 2024. This isn’t just bad luck; it’s a nationwide trend that everyone needs to pay attention to.
Millions of Products at Risk Nationwide
The number of products affected is massive and covers many everyday things. For example, 1.7 million air conditioner units made by Midea and sold under brand names like Danby, Frigidaire, and Insignia are being recalled.
These air conditioners were sold nationwide between March 2020 and May 2025. Power banks by Anker are being recalled after more than one million were sold, and 19 fires and explosions were reported, causing over $60,000 in property damage.
BowFlex, a big name in fitness, had to recall 3.8 million adjustable dumbbells after 111 people were hurt when the weights unexpectedly fell apart.
Government Ramps Up Response
Federal government agencies are working hard to address what they now call a public safety crisis. The CPSC works directly with companies to recall problematic products and warn people about risks.
Reports about defective and dangerous products are coming in faster than ever. The Food and Drug Administration is also involved, especially with food recalls, like sandwiches or salads that might carry dangerous bacteria.
These federal agencies are moving quickly and working together to protect consumers and get unsafe products off the market as soon as possible.
Recall Reaches Every Corner
These recalls are a coast-to-coast problem. Costco has 634 stores in 47 states, so the number of people affected is huge. Some recalls, like the Midea air conditioners, even go beyond Costco; those units were sold at places like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Amazon.
Some food recalls focus on states like Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, where potentially contaminated foods were sold.
The sheer reach of modern retail means dangerous products can end up in homes across virtually every part of the country before anyone realizes there’s a problem.
Danger Lurking in Moldy Air Conditioners
A significant problem involves U-shaped window air conditioners. These devices have a design flaw: Water doesn’t drain like it should, allowing mold to grow inside.
Some of these air conditioner models were even picked as “best of the year” by product reviewers. But trapped water makes a perfect home for mold, which blows throughout the house when the AC runs. Families have reported allergic reactions, constant coughs, and even lung infections.
In some homes, parents found black mold inside the air conditioner only after their children developed persistent breathing issues.
Children and Seniors Face Higher Risks
Experts say children and older adults are most at risk from mold in these recalled AC units, mainly because homes are closed during hot weather.
Mold exposure can cause asthma attacks, nagging coughs, throat pain, and, for some, severe health problems. At least 17 families said their loved ones had to go to the doctor or hospital after breathing air from the affected units.
Several parents said they only realized what was happening after their kids got sick and they found visible mold growing inside the machine.
Charging Devices Turn into Fire Hazards
Many people carry Anker’s portable power banks to keep their phones charged. However, the batteries in these banks have a defect that can cause them to overheat, leak, or even burst into flames.
There have already been nearly 20 reports of these devices catching fire. The damage includes burned backpacks, melted furniture, and at least two people suffering burns on their hands.
In some cases, people were woken up at night by the smell of smoke, only to find their chargers had melted or started a fire nearby.
Dumbbells Cause Serious Injuries
Testing your strength at home shouldn’t put you in danger, but that’s what happened with the recalled BowFlex adjustable dumbbells. These popular weights were coming apart unexpectedly, with plates falling off during exercise and sometimes striking users.
At least 111 people have reported injuries, including concussions, broken toes, and deep bruises. For some, the accidents happened on weights they’d owned for years, not just recent purchases, showing how widely the defect was spread.
Weak Links in Global Supply Chains
Many problems start much earlier, on the factory floor, sometimes overseas. Product experts say the Midea air conditioners were made in China and Thailand, and the design flaw wasn’t caught before millions reached store shelves.
The Anker chargers had batteries from a supplier that looked fine in early tests but later developed problems that caused overheating and fires.
When one link in the manufacturing or testing chain fails, dangerous equipment can simultaneously enter millions of homes.
Danger in Ready-to-Eat Foods
Not just gadgets, but ready-to-eat foods have also been recalled after outbreaks of listeria bacteria.
At least ten people have ended up in the hospital after eating contaminated sandwiches or salads from Fresh & Ready Foods. The source? A food preparation machine in the company’s California plant tested positive for Listeria.
This is especially risky for pregnant people, seniors, and anyone with weakened immune systems. Some of the affected food was sold for weeks before anyone realized it was contaminated, putting thousands at risk.
Costco’s Customer Response in Overdrive
Costco’s leadership has responded by making it easier for customers to return recalled products, and no receipt is needed.
In the current crisis, the company’s customer service lines are overloaded with people seeking refunds, replacements, or advice about what to do with dangerous items. Special procedures exist for products like power banks with lithium batteries, which need safe disposal.
Senior Costco leaders have issued statements promising that customer safety comes before everything else. The company is also working with suppliers to prevent further defects.
Company Solutions and Workarounds
The companies behind the recalls have devised different ways to fix each problem. Midea is sending out free repair kits and will even send technicians to homes if needed.
Anker offers free replacements, but only after customers show they’ve destroyed or turned in their faulty units, a way to ensure no one continues using a dangerous device. BowFlex is giving partial refunds for old weights and complete replacements for newer models.
These programs help, but they often create more headaches for customers who need to understand how to return broken products and get safe replacements.
Accountability and Taking Responsibility
Recalls are forcing companies to take responsibility. BowFlex’s current owner, Johnson Health Tech, is paying for the mistakes made by the company’s former owners because nearly 4 million dumbbells were sold over two decades.
Midea has admitted its AC design was flawed and is tightening up quality checks. These actions show companies realize their earlier safety checks weren’t good enough.
But for many people affected, that’s small comfort compared to the inconvenience (or suffering) they’ve faced.
Financial Toll of Recalls
Recalls also affect companies’ wallets. Anker may need to pay millions for property damage, while BowFlex is facing lawsuits and refund requests from more than a hundred people with serious injuries.
Suppose you add Costco’s potential losses from extra returns and damage to its reputation.
In that case, experts estimate that the total cost of these recalls could be hundreds of millions of dollars.
Calls for Better Prevention
Experts, consumer advocates, and lawmakers call for more vigorous product testing before sales. The U.S. relies mainly on companies to spot their mistakes and report problems voluntarily.
But as more electronics, batteries, and complex parts are used, this system looks increasingly shaky.
New laws might require deeper safety checks and certifications before products appear on major store shelves, making it harder for defective items to slip quietly.
Push for Stricter Regulations
Congress is taking notice. Hearings are being held to determine whether the CPSC has enough staff and money to keep up with the dangers posed by modern products, especially as recalls reached new records in 2025.
Lawmakers are discussing proposals to increase fines for companies that hide defects and to mandate testing for kitchen gadgets and home electronics.
Legal experts believe significant new regulations could be coming this year.
Retail and Manufacturing Changes
The impact goes beyond Costco. Big players like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy are now reviewing their rules to avoid similar disasters.
Electronics companies have started more thorough battery tests, and appliance makers are redesigning parts that failed before. Home fitness companies are also double-checking adjustable weights for flaws.
Insurers also reevaluate companies’ product policies, as they face higher risks from widespread recalls.
Consumers Get Vocal Online
Social media will have played a key role in 2025. People who spot a problem can post about it on Reddit or Facebook, quickly raising the alarm even before official notices are mailed out.
Groups of shoppers now cooperate online to help each other figure out whether their items are affected, and some even organize mass returns.
Consumer trust is lower than ever. Before buying, people want to know where their stuff is made and how it’s tested.
A Record Recall Year
Experts say there hasn’t been a wave of recalls on this scale since the massive lead-contaminated toy recalls in 2007.
What’s new about 2025 is that the problem covers many product categories, such as gadgets, exercise gear, food, and home appliances.
When so many product failures happen in a single year, it almost always leads to tighter rules and lasting changes for companies and customers.
Safety Is Everyone’s Job
If you shop at Costco, now is the time to check your house for recalled products, especially moldy air conditioners, risky power banks, dangerous dumbbells, and ready-to-eat foods.
Don’t ignore notices or think it can’t happen to you; these recalls involve millions of products and affect thousands of families. As companies and stores rush to fix these problems, safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Stay alert, report any issues, and take quick action to keep your family safe. The convenience of modern products shouldn’t come at the cost of your health or safety.