Walmart has issued a voluntary national recall of about 850,000 Ozark Trail water bottles due to a number of consumers who have been hurt by a sudden ejection of lids that struck them with force, including two who lost permanent eyesight. The recall on July 10, 2025, uncovers severe safety defects in the top-rated stainless steel insulated water bottles, which are sold exclusively in Walmart retail stores nationwide.
Details about the recalled products
The recall is Ozark Trail 64-ounce Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles model number 83-662. The water bottles feature a unique silver stainless-steel design along with a black one-piece screwcap lid. The water bottles are 4.41 x 4.41 x 11.5 inches tall and have the Ozark Trail logo embossed on one side of the water bottle. Strangely, the packaging of the product says model number 83-662 but not on the water bottle itself.
The tainted bottles were sold in Walmart stores across the country and on Walmart.com since 2017 at about $15. The bottles were manufactured in China and brought into the nation by Olympia Tools International Inc. of Covina, California, in collaboration with Walmart Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas.
Safety hazards and injuries reported
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) identified a risk hazard of seriousness regarding the capability of the lid to “forcefully eject” when the consumers try to open the bottles after filling the bottles with food, carbonated drinks, or perishable drinks like juice or milk for an extended period. Forceful ejection of the lid creates “serious impact and laceration hazards” to consumers.
The recall came after three cases were reported to Walmart of customers being injured when hit in the face by dramatically bursting out of the bottles upon opening lids. Most seriously, two were permanent loss of vision after the customers were hit in the eye. The third was an injury to the face from the ejected lid.
Such injuries validate the severity of the safety defect and the potential for catastrophic injury to consumers. CPSC specifically noted that the sudden ejection of the cover creates severe risks of impact injuries and lacerations.
Actions needed immediately by consumers
CPSC and Walmart suggest that customers stop using the recalled water bottles immediately and call Walmart to obtain a refund. Customers can do either of two things: they can call 800-925-6278, which is Walmart’s toll-free number, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT daily, or go to www.walmart.com/help or https://corporate.walmart.com/recalls for more information.
Besides that, the bottles that have been impacted can also be taken back to customers’ nearest Walmart where they will be refunded in total. The recall is under recall number 25-377.
Technical analysis of the defect
This risk is caused by consumers intentionally keeping certain types of liquids in the bottle for long periods. According to the CPSC, the issue is when bottles with “food, carbonated drink or perishable drinks, like juice or milk” are kept for long periods. The increase in pressure by these materials seems to cause circumstances under which the lid gets violently expelled once the bottle is opened.
This flaw is especially troublesome because most of the consumers fill these high-capacity bottles with different beverages during the course of a day, which may introduce the same condition that leads to the dangerous lid ejection. The 64-ounce volume makes the bottles extremely popular for all-day use, which inadvertently exposes consumers to this hazard for longer periods.
Walmart’s response and corporate responsibility
Walmart has asserted that it has “completely cooperated with CPSC” during the recall. Walmart committed to taking the recalled bottles off shelves and notifying consumers of the recall. Walmart’s corporate website has more than 70 recalls for food, drugs, and miscellaneous items, including the Ozark Trail water bottles.
In a statement on its product recall website, Walmart said it’s committed to customer safety by saying: “Walmart and Sam’s Club are committed to the well-being and health of our customers and members through the supply of safe and compliant products, informed by our health and wellness, product safety, and food safety experts. When a recall occurs, we respond promptly to stop sales of the product and to recall the product from our clubs and stores.”
Historical context and comparable recalls
This recall is just one of a larger wave of 2025 safety recalls on water bottles. Earlier in the year, additional water bottle recalls also include Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water Bottles recalled in March due to risk of crack hazard to the bottles and laceration hazards. Also, Coca-Cola’s Topo Chico Mineral Water was recalled in June due to potential bacterial contamination.
The Ozark Trail recall represents one of the largest water bottle recalls in recent history, affecting 850,000 units compared to the 61,500 Gerolsteiner bottles recalled earlier in 2025. The severity of the injuries, particularly the permanent vision loss suffered by two consumers, makes this recall particularly significant.
Consumer safety recommendations
Beyond the immediate recall, the CPSC incident highlights important safety considerations for consumers using insulated water bottles. The agency recommends that consumers avoid storing carbonated beverages, food, or perishable liquids in bottles not specifically designed for such contents. The pressure buildup from these materials can create dangerous conditions even in bottles without apparent defects.
Consumers should also be aware that product model numbers may not always appear on the products themselves but can be found on packaging materials. This recall demonstrates the importance of retaining product packaging for identification purposes in case of future safety issues.
The CPSC continues to monitor product safety across all consumer goods and encourages consumers to report dangerous products or product-related injuries through www.SaferProducts.gov or by calling the CPSC Hotline at 800-638-2772. The agency’s role in protecting consumers from unreasonable risks has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
