About the Recalled Toy
The recalled product is the Melissa & Doug Lights & Sounds Fire Truck Activity Board, a red plastic fire engine toy measuring approximately 10.5″ × 14.31″ × 3.06″ and weighing about 1.6 pounds. Features include spinning wheels, lights and sounds, a white rotating ladder, and a black plastic fire hose connector — the component at issue in the recall.
The toy was manufactured in China and sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com from July 2025 through August 2026, priced at approximately $30.
Latest Updates
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the Melissa & Doug recall on September 17, 2026, citing a choking hazard from the fire hose port, which can come loose and detach from the toy [1]. The CPSC received 26 reports of the port detaching, including one report of a minor cut [1].
The Choking Hazard
The recalled toy’s fire hose connector port can break free and become a loose piece small enough for a young child to place in their mouth. Federal toy safety standards exist precisely because young children explore the world by mouthing objects — and a component that detaches during normal play puts that behavior directly in conflict with the toy’s structural integrity.
Melissa & Doug markets its products as developmentally appropriate learning toys, and this activity board — with its busy board design, lights, and sounds — is clearly intended for young children. A product designed for that age group carries a heightened duty to ensure that no component can detach and become a choking risk during foreseeable use.
Reported Incidents
The CPSC received 26 reports of the fire hose port detaching from the toy. One report involved a minor cut injury.
The absence of a documented choking injury does not diminish the legal exposure here — the CPSC classifies the detachment as posing a risk of serious injury, and choking events in young children can escalate within seconds. Parents who reported detachment incidents may not have witnessed a choking event only because they happened to be present when the port came loose.
Target’s Role as Exclusive Retailer
The Melissa & Doug Fire Truck Activity Board was sold exclusively through Target — meaning Target selected, stocked, and sold this product as the only retail channel available to consumers. Courts have increasingly examined the liability of large retailers who serve as the exclusive distribution point for defective products, particularly where the retailer’s buyer relationships give it influence over product specifications and quality standards.
With 84,000 units moving through a single retailer over just 13 months, Target’s role in bringing this product to scale is significant and may be relevant to any legal claim.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
If your child was injured by a detached component from a Melissa & Doug Fire Truck Activity Board, you may have a product liability claim against Melissa & Doug and potentially Target. Contact an attorney promptly, as filing deadlines vary by state.
What to Do Now
Stop using the toy immediately. Consumers can request a free replacement toy, a $30 refund check, or a $40 Target store credit. Contact Melissa & Doug at 800-718-5365 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET) or visit www.melissaanddoug.com/recall for instructions on how to document and dispose of the product.
References
1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Melissa-and-Doug-Recalls-Fire-Truck-Activity-Board-Toys-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-from-Choking-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Target