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American Standard's "Champion" toilet seat may be defective and prone to leak and waste water.
Investigation Source
- Nationwide
Investigation Scope
Category Information
Investigation Topics
- Defective Product or Service
- Warranties
Product or Service
- Toilet
Injury Types
- Monetary Loss
- Property Damage
Investigation Details
Investigation and pending class action lawsuit against American Standard for its defectively designed "Champion" line of toilet seats.
The Champion line of toilets replaces the traditional flapper with a silicone rubber seal. According to American Standard, it "completely redesigned the inside of the toilet to make flushing virtually maintenance-free..." American Standard explicitly warrants the Champion for 10 years: "America's Best Flushing System is so advanced, American Standard backs Champion "inside, outside and everything in the tank... with an unheard-of 10-year Worry-Free Decade Warranty. This is the most comprehensive warranty in the industry." (April 2, 2004 press release).
The warranty states in part, "If inspection of this American Standard plumbing product, inclusive of china and all mechanical components, within ten years after its initial purchaser, confirms that it is defective in materials or workmanship, American Standard will repair or, at its option, exchange the product for a similar model."
Despite the representation that the Champion is a maintenance-free toilet, the Champion is, in fact, defective in several ways. Most significantly, due to a design defect, the flush valve seal between the tank and the bowl fails to create an adequate seal. As a result, the toilet leaks and refills itself constantly, wasting water and increasing customers' water bills. Customers also report that the flushing mechanism comes apart and must be fixed and/or replaced, but that no fix is available. Customers also report that the toilet tank does not install on the bowl securely, causing the toilet to wobble and leak.
The Champion line of toilets replaces the traditional flapper with a silicone rubber seal. According to American Standard, it "completely redesigned the inside of the toilet to make flushing virtually maintenance-free..." American Standard explicitly warrants the Champion for 10 years: "America's Best Flushing System is so advanced, American Standard backs Champion "inside, outside and everything in the tank... with an unheard-of 10-year Worry-Free Decade Warranty. This is the most comprehensive warranty in the industry." (April 2, 2004 press release).
The warranty states in part, "If inspection of this American Standard plumbing product, inclusive of china and all mechanical components, within ten years after its initial purchaser, confirms that it is defective in materials or workmanship, American Standard will repair or, at its option, exchange the product for a similar model."
Despite the representation that the Champion is a maintenance-free toilet, the Champion is, in fact, defective in several ways. Most significantly, due to a design defect, the flush valve seal between the tank and the bowl fails to create an adequate seal. As a result, the toilet leaks and refills itself constantly, wasting water and increasing customers' water bills. Customers also report that the flushing mechanism comes apart and must be fixed and/or replaced, but that no fix is available. Customers also report that the toilet tank does not install on the bowl securely, causing the toilet to wobble and leak.
Defendant Details
| Name (Stock Symbol) | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| American Standard Brand | American Standard Brands was formed in February, 2008 from the merger of 3 companies: American Standard Americas, Crane Plumbing, and Eljer. American Standard America manufacturers bath and kitchen products, including bathroom and kitchen faucets, fixtures and furniture brand names such as American Standard®, Porcher® and Jado®. Crane Plumbing manufactures and distributes plumbing fixtures and specialty plumbing products in the United States and Canada under the Crane Plumbing, Fiat, Showerite, Universal-Rundle and Sanymetal brand names. Eljer Holding Corporation manufactures and markets vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs, and other related plumbing products for the kitchen and bathroom markets. Products are distributed through a network of wholesale distributors, hardware stores and do-it-yourself home centers serving the residential, commercial construction, remodeling and repair markets in both the U.S. and Canada |