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Motor Vehicle Safety
Information: 1-800-333-0371
TP 14566 – Public Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2016-P07 E
September 26, 2016
Manufacturer:
Evenflo Company, Inc.
1801 Commerce Drive
Piqua, OH 45356 USA
www.evenflo.com
Importer and Distributor:
Evenflo Company, Inc.
2 Robert Speck Parkway, Suite 755
Mississauga, ON L4Z 1H8
Consumer Contact:
1-800-265-0749
Model Name and Number Affected:
Evolve 3-in-1 Combination Seats, Model Number 34411700C
Dates of Manufacture
Seats manufactured prior to February 9, 2016
Number of Units:
2,353
Geographic Distribution:
Across Canada
Issue:
The Evolve has a harness adjustment button located underneath a small plastic shield between the child occupant’s legs. This harness adjustment button allows for fine tuning of the harness so that a caregiver can safely tighten it around the child before vehicular travel and loosen it at the conclusion of a trip, thereby also permitting a child to gain ingress and egress from the seat.
Through its regular review of consumer feedback, Evenflo identified a trend in complaints (only one complaint from Canada) regarding use of the seat in harnessed mode. Specifically, some children are accessing and activating the seat’s harness adjustment button and loosening the harness.
Safety Risk:
A loosened harness may increase the likelihood of injury in a vehicular crash.
Evenflo is not aware of any injuries in connection with this issue.
Company Action:
Effective February 9, 2016, Evenflo replaced the pull-style harness adjustment mechanisms used on its harnessed seats, including Evolve, with push-style mechanisms across all platforms. Both types of mechanisms are used by Evenflo and other manufacturers. The change from pull-style to push-style harness adjustment button has eliminated the child access and activation concern for consumers that have experienced the issue and reported it to the company.
Evenflo will mail a notification letter to all registered consumers. Upon request, Evenflo will ship a remedy kit to consumers. The free remedy kit will contain a replacement harness adjustment button and a Phillips head installation screw, as well as instructions for easy installation—in both English, French and Spanish. The kit will curtail child access and activation of the harness adjustment button and possible loosening of the harness.
Consumer Recourse:
Non-registered owners, or owners who have moved, can contact Evenflo at www.evolve.evenflo.com or 1-800-265-0749 to register and order a remedy kit. Frequently asked questions and an instructional video will also be available at www.evolve.evenflo.com. Owners can also contact Evenflo’s ParentLink Consumer Resource Center at 1-800-265-0749 in order to obtain live support. Consumers should not return the seat to retailers.
The Evolve’s small plastic shield functions as designed to deter the vast majority of children from gaining access to the harness adjustment button. If a child shows no inclination to access the harness adjustment button, then the Evolve may be used safely until a remedy kit is installed. Also, if a caregiver observes a child reaching around the shield in attempt to gain access to the harness adjustment button and the child is at least 4 years old, 18 kg (40 lbs.) and 112 cm (44 inches), then the Evolve can be used as a high-back, belt-positioning booster until a remedy kit can be installed. Only in the event that (1) the child does not meet the age and size requirements for use of the seat as a belt-positioning booster, and (2) the child has a demonstrated interest in accessing and activating the harness adjustment button, then the seat should not be used until a remedy kit is installed. Of course, many older children who use a booster seat have the strength and dexterity to activate the vast majority of harness adjustment mechanisms available on child restraints in the market today, so care should always be taken to teach children that the harness adjustment mechanism is not a toy and must not be activated in order to help keep them safe.
Evolve 3-in-1 Combination Seat, Model 34411700C