Sunbeam Products, Inc. has announced a recall of over half a million Mr. Coffee brand coffee makers. The recall is in response to reports of a defect that has already caused injury to a number of users.

“Product safety recalls are serious business,” said Zephyrhills personal injury attorney Robert Alston. “The media do a good job of getting the information out there, but consumers need to do the legwork of checking to see whether their specific product has been recalled.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada, and Sunbeam Products are cooperating on the voluntary recall. The announcement applies to certain Mr. Coffee Single Cup Brewing Systems sold in the United States and Canada. The product is just under one foot tall, has a removable drip tray, and comes in black with red, white, or silver trim. They were sold for up to $80 at retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond, as well as online merchants.

Reports indicate that steam can build up in the brewing chamber to the point where it forces the chamber open during brewing, ejecting hot water, steam, and coffee grounds. 164 users have reported the brewing chamber opening, and 61 have reported burns to their face, hands, or upper torso. 59 of those burn reports were in the United States, and two in Canada.

Sunbeam Products has created a website at www.mrcoffeerecall.com where consumers can find out if their unit has been recalled and get further instructions. Eligible customers will be able to return to coffee maker and receive a replacement at no charge to them. In the meantime, those with recalled machines should stop using them immediately.

“Anyone injured by a consumer product should document the injury and speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible,” added Mr. Alston.