By Linsey B. Knerl

Product recalls are all the rage, with many of them becoming downright scary for consumers. But what happens if you stumble across an unsafe product that hasn’t been recalled yet? How do you seek action?

There are several steps you can take in handling the matter. While they can be done in any order, it is recommended that you do the following:

Contact the manufacturer. If you feel the defect is due to a design flaw, contact the maker of the product. Most companies list their info somewhere on the packaging or the product itself. Give the customer service agent as much detail as possible, and be sure to emphasize your concern with the product. Many times companies need to receive many complaints to justify a voluntary recall, so be sure you don’t leave anything out. If you are looking for a replacement or repair, be sure you explain this and give them an opportunity to do so.

Contact the appropriate government agency. For most products, you will need to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In cases of injury or dissatisfaction from an unsafe product (such as a toy, household appliance, or piece of furniture), you can access their forms at https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.

Contact the NHTSA for vehicle, tire, or child restraint complaints at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/.

Contact the FDA for problems with food, medicine, cosmetics, animal products (including feed), vaccines, and products sold online at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html.

Contact the FTC for dissatisfaction with business practices (such as telemarketing scams) at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.

For other products, services, or for a complete listing of all consumer-related government agencies and links, see http://www.cpsc.gov/federal.html.

Contact the media. If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint to both the manufacturer and the appropriate government agency, you can always make your case known before the online, television, or radio audiences. Let fellow consumers know about the dangerous product by posting a case on Consupo.com. Local news channels usually feature a consumer action link on their websites that encourages consumers to have their issues remedied with the help of a news anchor and camera crew. Newspapers, radio stations, and blogs are all also very excited to feature breaking news, and may be the vehicle you need to make your voice heard.

Contact a lawyer. While the world appears to be relatively sue-happy, sometimes the legal route is the only way to go. When a recent group of women blamed Victoria’s Secret for allegedly including formaldehyde as an ingredient in their bras (and subsequently developed rashes and illnesses), they let their lawyers handle it. (More word on if the case goes anywhere at a later date.) With thousands of litigation experts just dying to take your case, it probably won’t be difficult to at least get a free consultation. (If you feel it is the only way.)

It can take years to see results from a product complaint. Sometimes changes are made to the actual product. More often, however, the product ceases to be manufactured and tends to be forgotten about. If you are ever injured as a result of a legitimate product defect, speak up and speak often. Your voice can save someone else the grief of a hazardous product gone wrong.