TP 14566
Public Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2007-P03 E
Manufacturer:
Combi USA, Inc.
1962 Highway 160 W, Suite 100
Fort Mill, SC 29708-8027
U.S.A.
Tel.: 803-548-6633
Fax: 803-548-3663
Website: www.combi-intl.com
Importer, Distributor and Consumer Contact:
ISIS Inc.
2260 Guénette Street
Saint-Laurent, QC H4R 2M7
Tel.: 514-344-3045
Toll-Free: 1-800-667-4111
Fax: 514-344-3296
Website: www.combi.ca
Model and Model Number Affected:
Centre DX - 789462
Cosmo ST Travel System - 714650
Note: A travel system includes a stroller, an infant car seat, and a car seat base.
Dates of Manufacture:
August 5 and 7, 2006
Number of Units:
203
Geographic Distribution:
Across Canada
Issue:
When using the infant car seat in a vehicle with the UAS belt (also referred to as the lower anchor strap) and with the adjustable recline foot extended, the adjustable recline foot may move from its original adjustment position during an impact introducing slack into the UAS belt.
Background and Company Action:
Under routine dynamic sled tests conducted as part of Transport Canada’s compliance testing program, movement in the adjustable recline foot was observed while using the UAS installation method. A comprehensive investigation was opened and an additional test was conducted with the same results. The infant car seat changed its adjustment position during the simulated impact test when the initially fully extended adjustable recline foot collapsed. This represents a non-compliance to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213.1 - Infant Restraint Systems. In all other configurations, this infant car seat otherwise met all applicable dynamic testing requirements of CMVSS 213.1.
The manufacturer and the importer were advised of the sled test results on March 6, 2007. A meeting was held at the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) Toronto Impact Studies Facility on March 22, 2007 with all involved parties to discuss the issue and examine the test samples and video. From this meeting, it was determined that the Canadian UAS belt connectors (also referred to as lower anchor connectors) were the cause of the test failures. During the tests, the UAS belt connectors caught and pulled on the recline foot adjustment panel causing the change in adjustment position. Combi USA, Inc. conducted additional sled tests at a U.S. facility to duplicate the results achieved at DRDC Toronto and to experiment with alternate UAS belt connectors. Results showed no movement of the adjustment foot using alternate UAS belt connectors.
Subsequent to the U.S. laboratory test results, a replacement UAS belt was selected for validation testing. Successful results were obtained in all three dynamic sled tests conducted at DRDC Toronto on May 9 and 10, 2007 using the replacement UAS belt.
Safety Risk:
With the original Canadian UAS belt connectors and the adjustable recline foot in the fully extended position, the adjustable recline foot may change its adjustment position during an impact introducing slack into the UAS belt. Any slack induced in the UAS belt could cause the infant restraint system to function differently in a secondary collision event (e.g., a rollover, a second frontal, side or rear-end impact, etc.) and could increase the risk of injury to the infant occupant of the infant car seat or other occupants of the vehicle.
Consumer Action and Recourse:
Consumers who have completed and returned their registration card, or registered their infant car seat on-line at www.combi.ca, will receive by mail a free replacement Canadian UAS belt kit. The kit will include a replacement Canadian UAS belt (shown in the picture below), UAS belt replacement instructions, as well as an instruction manual update. Those who have not registered their infant car seat should contact ISIS Inc. at 1-800-667-4111.
Until the replacement Canadian UAS belt kit is received, if the adjustable recline foot must be extended in order to install the base at the correct angle, parents and caregivers should use the vehicle seat belt instead of the UAS belt to secure the infant car seat in the vehicle. Consumers should not return the affected units to a retailer.
Transport Canada: 1-800-333-0371
Release Date: July 12, 2007