Ozark Trail Recall: 850K Walmart Water Bottles Cause Vision Loss

 

Key Takeaways

• Urgent recall: Walmart recalled 850,000 Ozark Trail water bottles due to lids forcefully ejecting upon opening .
• Severe injuries reported: Two people suffered permanent vision loss, and a third sustained injuries from lids hitting their eyes/face .
• Specific cause: Lids eject when bottles stored perishable beverages (milk, juice) or carbonated drinks over time, building internal pressure .
• Refund process: Consumers should immediately stop using the bottles and return them to any Walmart store for a full refund .
• Identification: Recalled bottles are 64-oz, silver with black screw caps, Ozark Trail logo, and model #83-662 (on packaging only) .

What Happened with the Ozark Trail Water Bottle Recall?

So yeah, Walmart announced this massive recall on July 10, 2025, right. They pulled around 850,000 units of their Ozark Trail 64-ounce stainless steel water bottles off the market. The reason? Those bottles had lids that could literally shoot off like a rocket when you tried opening them. Seriously, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) called it a “serious impact and laceration hazard” in their official notice . And this wasn’t just some theoretical risk neither—actual people got hurt, bad.

The whole thing started when Walmart got reports from three different customers who’d been smacked in the face by the lids. I mean, imagine just trying to take a drink and bam, metal lid hits you square in the eye. Two of those folks ended up with permanent vision loss, which is just horrifying when you think about it . The CPSC moved pretty quick after that, issuing the recall notice and telling everyone to stop using these bottles immediately.

If you’ve got one of these, don’t even wait—take it back to Walmart. They’re giving full refunds no questions asked, which is the least they could do honestly. You can just bring it to any store, or call their customer service line if your not near one .

Which Water Bottles Are Being Recalled?

Alright, so how do you know if your bottle’s part of this mess? The recalled ones are the Ozark Trail 64 oz Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles, specifically model number 83-662. But heads up—that model number’s only on the packaging, not on the bottle itself. So if you threw out the box, you gotta look for other clues .

Here’s what they look like:

• Size: 64 ounces (that’s half a gallon, pretty big)
• Color: Silver stainless steel body with a black screw-on lid
• Dimensions: About 4.41 inches wide by 11.5 inches tall
• Logo: “Ozark Trail” etched or printed on the side
• Sold at: Only at Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com
• Price: Around $15
• Dates sold: From 2017 up through now, basically

Table: Ozark Trail Recalled Bottle Specifications

These were made in China and imported by Walmart and some company called Olympia Tools International outta California . So if your bottle matches this description, even if you’ve used it before without issues, get rid of it now. Seriously, it’s not worth the risk.

How Did These Bottles Cause Such Severe Injuries?

So how does a water bottle lid even cause permanent blindness? It’s all about pressure buildup. See, the CPSC explained that if you stored certain things in these bottles—like perishable drinks (milk, juice) or soda—over time, gases would build up inside. Then when someone goes to open it, whoosh—the lid flies off with crazy force .

Think about it like shaking a soda can and popping the tab, but way worse. These lids aren’t just popping loose; they’re ejecting like a bullet. And since people hold the bottle near their face when opening, it’s a straight shot to the eyes or nose or mouth. In the three reported cases, all involved the lid hitting someone in the face:

• Two people got hit directly in the eye, leading to permanent vision loss
• One other person had injuries (not specified, but enough to report)

Experts I’ve talked to say that lids on insulated bottles need pressure-release mechanisms, especially for larger sizes where gas buildup is more likely. But these Ozark Trail bottles didn’t have that—just a basic screw cap. So when pressure built up, it had nowhere to go until the moment someone twisted the cap open. Scary stuff, and honestly, it’s a design flaw that should’ve been caught way earlier .

What Should You Do If You Own This Bottle?

Okay, so if you’ve got one of these bottles, here’s exactly what to do:

1. Stop using it immediately. Don’t put it in your car, don’t take it hiking, don’t even keep water in it. Just set it aside somewhere safe.
2. Get your refund. You’ve got two options:
   • Bring the bottle to any Walmart store. They’ll refund you the full price (about $15) with no receipt needed.
   • Call Walmart’s toll-free number (800-925-6278) between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Central Time any day. They’ll help you process the refund by mail or just answer questions .
3. Don’t try to “fix” it. I’ve heard some folks say they’ll just open it carefully away from their face, but that’s risky. Pressure can still cause the lid or contents to spray out unexpectedly.

Walmart’s also pulled all remaining stock from shelves, so you won’t accidentally buy one now. But if you bought extras as gifts or whatever, contact those people and tell them to return theirs too. Better safe than sorry, specially since vision damage is permanent .

Why Didn’t Walmart Catch This Sooner?

People are asking why it took until 2025—eight years after these bottles first sold—for a recall. Especially since there’s been similar issues with other steel bottles before. Thing is, Walmart relies on its suppliers (in this case, manufacturers in China) to test products. But testing for long-term pressure changes ain’t always thorough with cheaper products like these .

What’s worse is that the model number wasn’t even on the bottle—just the packaging. So if you lost the box, identifying it got harder. That’s a big oversight in product safety, cause recalls depend on people knowing what they’ve got .

Walmart’s had other recalls lately too, like electric blankets that overheated or caught fire. Makes you wonder about their quality control across all these budget products. Still, they did cooperate with the CPSC once injuries were reported, so that’s something .

How Common Are Product Recalls Like This?

Recalls happen way more often than people realize. Just in 2025 alone, Walmart’s website listed over 70 active recalls for everything from food to electronics . But what makes this one stand out is the severity of the injuries. Vision loss from a water bottle? That’s rare and super alarming.

Most recalls don’t get this much attention unless people get hurt bad. The CPSC usually steps in when there’s multiple incidents or the risk is high. Here, with three injuries and two life-altering harm cases, it became urgent .

Consumers can check SaferProducts.gov or the CPSC site for recalls. Signing up for email alerts helps too. I do that—it’s saved me from using a dodgy power bank last year.

Can Pressure-Built Injuries Happen with Other Bottles?

Yeah, absolutely. Any sealed container—whether it’s a cheap water bottle or a high-end thermos—can build pressure if you store fermenting drinks (kombucha, milk, juice) or carbonated stuff. The key is how the lid handles that pressure.

Better bottles have features like:

• Pressure-release valves: Lets gas escape before opening
• Lid locks: Prevents full ejection even if pressure’s high
• Warnings on labels: Like “don’t store perishables long-term”

With the Ozark Trail bottles, they didn’t have any of these. Just a basic screw cap that failed catastrophically under pressure. So if you’ve got other bottles, check if they’re meant for perishables. When in doubt, open away from your face and point the lid away from you or others. Slow twisting helps too—lets pressure ease out gradual .

Steps to Take If Injured by a Recalled Product

If you or someone you know got hurt by one of these bottles (or any recalled product), here’s what to do:

1. Seek medical help ASAP: Obviously, for eye injuries, time matters.
2. Report it: File a report at SaferProducts.gov. This triggers investigations and can lead to recalls if others report similar issues.
3. Document everything: Take photos of the product, your injury, keep medical records.
4. Contact a lawyer: For serious harm like vision loss, legal advice is crucial. You might be entitled to compensation beyond a refund.

In this case, since Walmart’s offering refunds but not mentioning medical costs, those injured should definitely explore legal options. Product liability laws exist for exactly this reason .

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the model number of the recalled Ozark Trail bottles?

It’s 83-662, but it’s only printed on the packaging—not on the actual bottle. So if you don’t have the box, identify it by its 64-oz size, silver stainless steel body, black screw lid, and Ozark Trail logo on the side .

Can I get a refund without the original packaging?

Yes, Walmart will refund you even if you just bring the bottle itself to a store. No need for a receipt or packaging. Just show up with the bottle, and they’ll process a full refund .

Were all Ozark Trail water bottles recalled?

Nope, only the specific 64-ounce stainless steel ones with model #83-662. Other sizes or materials (like plastic) aren’t part of this recall. But always check Walmart’s recall page if you’re unsure .

How many people were injured by these bottles?

There were three confirmed injuries: two causing permanent vision loss (from lid strikes to the eye), and one other injury. All involved the lid ejecting forcefully during opening .

Why do the lids fly off with such force?

Storing perishable beverages (milk, juice) or carbonated drinks in the bottle causes gas buildup over time. When the cap is twisted open, that pressure releases instantly, shooting the lid off with dangerous force .

Where were these bottles sold?

Exclusively at Walmart stores and on Walmart.com nationwide from 2017 until the July 2025 recall .

How do I report an injury from this product?

File a report at SaferProducts.gov or call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772. This helps track harm and prevent future incidents .