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Watkins Manufacturing Corporation of Vista, California recalled approximately 32,900 Highlife Collection spas with hydromassage rotary jets on February 12, 2026 (CPSC Recall No. 26-268) [1]. An additional 853 units were sold in Canada. Sold through independent pool and spa dealers nationwide from October 2022 through September 2025 for between $16,000 and $24,000 (spas) and between $18 and $35 (replacement parts). Manufactured in China.
Affected Spa Models
The recall affects hydromassage rotary jets (6 fin) installed in eight Highlife Collection spa models from model years 2023, 2024, and 2025:
- Grandee
- Envoy
- Vanguard
- Aria
- Prodigy
- Sovereign
- Jetsetter
- Jetsetter LX
The defective jets were also sold separately as replacement parts. Consumers can locate their spa’s serial number on the front of the unit to determine if their model contains recalled components.
Life-Threatening Jet Defect
The hydromassage rotary jets create excessive suction force that allows users’ hair to become entangled in the rotating mechanism. Once hair is caught, the suction submerges the victim’s head underwater, creating immediate drowning danger. Users cannot easily free themselves from the powerful suction, transforming a relaxation feature into a deadly trap.
Drowning and Entanglement Risks
- Fatal drowning when hair entanglement forces head underwater
- Near-drowning incidents requiring emergency medical intervention
- Scalp injuries from forcible hair pulling during entanglement
- Panic-induced injuries while struggling to escape suction
- Oxygen deprivation and brain damage from submersion
- Psychological trauma from entrapment experiences
Documented Incident
Watkins Manufacturing has received one report of a consumer whose hair became entangled in the jets. No injuries were reported in this incident, though the entanglement alone demonstrates the life-threatening nature of the defect. The actual danger extends beyond documented cases to every spa containing these defective jets.
Immediate Safety Instructions
- Stop using the recalled hydromassage rotary jets immediately.
- Visit hotspring.com/recalls to determine if your spa contains affected jets.
- Locate your spa’s serial number on the front of the unit.
- Contact Watkins Wellness at 888-450-5748 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday) or email jetrecall@watkinsmfg.com.
- Obtain instructions and video demonstration for turning off recalled jets.
- Request free replacement jet inserts.
- Install replacement inserts following company instructions.
- Do not use spa features involving recalled jets until repairs are completed.
Premium Product Liability
Consumers investing $16,000 to $24,000 in luxury spa systems reasonably expect premium safety engineering and rigorous quality control. The presence of life-threatening entanglement hazards in high-end relaxation products represents catastrophic failures in design, testing, and consumer protection. Buyers purchased these spas for wellness and relaxation—not to face drowning risks in their own homes.
Legal Claims for Spa Owners
Highlife Collection spa purchasers may assert multiple legal theories:
- Design defects creating foreseeable hair entanglement and drowning hazards
- Failure to conduct adequate safety testing before marketing luxury spa products
- Breach of express warranties for safe, premium spa experiences
- Breach of implied warranties of merchantability for $16,000-$24,000 products
- Negligent product design and engineering
- Economic losses from purchasing defective luxury goods
- Diminished property values from installed dangerous spa equipment
Recoverable damages include original purchase price (up to $24,000), installation costs, property damage from spa removal, diminished home value from defective fixtures, emotional distress from experiencing entanglement dangers, medical expenses for any drowning-related injuries, and punitive damages for selling luxury products with known deadly defects. The substantial investment in these premium spas amplifies economic losses from the recall.
Replacement Parts Distribution
The recall extends beyond complete spa units to separately sold replacement jets purchased for $18 to $35. This broader distribution creates additional consumer exposure as homeowners who installed aftermarket parts may be unaware of the entanglement hazards in their existing spas.
Evaluate Your Highlife Spa Claim
Free Case Assessment: If you purchased a Highlife Collection spa (Grandee, Envoy, Vanguard, Aria, Prodigy, Sovereign, Jetsetter, or Jetsetter LX) from model years 2023-2025, or if you experienced hair entanglement in spa jets, contact our product liability team immediately. You may qualify for compensation through a Highlife Spa Recall Class Action Lawsuit.
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Watkins-Manufacturing-Recalls-Hydromassage-Rotary-Jets-in-Highlife-Collection-Spas-Due-to-Entanglement-and-Drowning-Hazards