Repairs of recalled Fisher-Price Toys Delayed

Children who planned to ride their Power Wheels trucks and cars this winter may be grounded for months awaiting free repairs that the Consumer Product Safety Commission says are taking too long. The federal agency said it’s putting pressure on Fisher-Price, a unit of El Segundo-based Mattel Inc., to speed up repairs on the battery-powered vehicles that were recalled in October because of a flawed electrical system. The faulty wiring sparked 150 fires that gave nine children minor burns and caused $300,000 in damage. The 400 centers set up by the company are just beginning to get parts and have an average waiting list of 800 to 1,200 vehicles. A Fisher-Price spokeswoman said the company is working “virtually around the clock” to address the problem and said all repairs should be completed before spring.