Recalls / 2000-10-13

CPSC, NHTSA and Century Announce Recall of Infant Car Seats/Carriers

01012 · Recalled 2000-10-13 · CPSC page

Recalled Century rear-facing infant car seats/carrier

Description

"Riding in a child safety seat on the car's rear seat for every trip is the safest way to transport young children in a motor vehicle," said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Sue Bailey. "The recall announced today is only related to using the seat as a carrier (not how the seat performs while in a car). Parents should continue using these carriers as car seats." The recall involves all Century rear-facing infant car seats/carriers with one-piece handles, manufactured from January 1991 through July 1997. The date of manufacture, written as month, day, year (010191 through 073197), can be found on a label on the side of the seat. The recalled car seats/carriers have a molded, one-piece, one-color plastic handle colored white, gray, or tan.

Hazards

When the seat is used as an infant carrier, the handle can break. An infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries. "The break can happen unexpectedly and the seat can drop to the ground,"said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "Century is providing parents with new handles for their carriers. Installing the new handle will help keep your baby safe and secure."

Reported injuries

Century has received more than 2,700 reports of handle-related problems, including handles breaking, cracking or possibly not being locked, while the seat is being used as a carrier. In addition to these reports, Century has also received over 200 reports of injury, including concussions, skull fractures, lacerations, broken bones, bruises, and scratches as a result of such handle-related problems.

Remedy

Graco, which now owns the "Century" brand name, will provide consumers a free easy-to-install replacement handle. Consumers should not carry the seat by the handle until it has been replaced. Consumers can continue to use the product as a car seat.

Products

Name	Model	Units
Century rear-facing infant car seats/carriers		About 4 million

Parties

Manufacturer: Century Products (Century)
Sold at: Juvenile product, mass merchandise, major discount sold the car seats/carriers for about $40, when sold alone to about $130, when sold with a stroller.

Consumer contact

To receive a free replacement handle, call Graco toll-free at (800) 345-4109 anytime. Consumers also can log on to the company's website at www.gracobaby.com. Consumers should have the car seat in front of them when they call. Consumers with questions about this recall campaign should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or visit CPSC's web site www.cpsc.gov. Information also is available at the NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT (327-4236) or visit NHTSA's web site www.nhtsa.gov. The NHTSA number to call in the Washington, DC area is (202) 366-0123.

Source: CPSC recall 01012. Inclusion in this database is not legal or medical advice.