New Yorkers Warned: Exploding Walmart Water Bottles Cause Vision Loss

If you’ve picked up a stainless steel water bottle from Walmart in the last couple of years, especially one from the Ozark Trail brand, you’re going to want to stop what you’re doing and take a closer look. A serious recall has been issued, and it’s not just a “better safe than sorry” situation, people have been badly hurt.

Lids Are Forcefully Ejecting

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the lids on these water bottles have been reported to pop off with extreme force. We're not talking about a little pressure release. No, these lids have struck people in the face hard enough to cause injuries, including permanent vision loss in two cases.

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The issue happens when the bottle has held perishable beverages, like milk or soda, for a while. The pressure builds up, and when someone tries to open it, the lid can basically become a projectile.

850,000 Bottles Sold

The bottles in question are the Ozark Trail 64 oz. Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles with the model number 83-662. These were sold exclusively at Walmart since 2017 and are manufactured in China, imported by Olympia Tools International Inc.

The model number appears on the packaging, but not on the bottle itself, which makes things a little trickier for anyone trying to ID the one they bought months or even years ago.

How to Spot One in Your Home

The bottles are silver stainless steel, about 11.5 inches tall with a black screw-on lid. They have an Ozark Trail logo on the side, which looks like a stylized mountain peak. Again, there’s no model number on the actual bottle, so you may need to check old packaging if you still have it, or compare to online photos to be sure.

If You Have One, Stop Using It Now

Don’t take chances here. If you own one of these bottles, stop using it immediately, especially if you’ve been using it for anything other than plain water. You can return it to any Walmart location for a full refund, no receipt required. If you’re unsure what to do or have questions, Walmart’s customer service line is the best next step.