TP 2436
Road Safety Leaflet # D-2003-03 (E)
Release Date: March 13, 2003
Manufacturer:
Graco Children's Products
PO Box 100
Elverson PA 19341
U.S.A.
Importer & Distributor:
Elfe Juvenile Products
4580 Hickmore Street
St-Laurent, QC
H4T 1K2
Consumer Contact:
Call Centre: 1-866-473-0163
Media Contact:
Ivan Bern: (514) 344-3533
Model Name and Model Number Affected:
| Brand Name | Model No. (Amended August 6, 2003) |
|---|---|
| SnugRide | 8448LDIACA
844342CA 8463JJJCA 8463GMPCA 8447LNGSCA 8464MACCA 8442LMELCA 8472MELCA 8444LHABCA 8444LKERCA 8602GMPCA 8602JJJCA 8603MACCA 8605HABCA 8605KERCA 8607NGSCA |
Dates of Manufacture:
March 1, 2002 - March 8, 2003 (Amended August 1, 2003)
Number of Units:
16,060 (Amended August 6, 2003)
Problem:
Graco Children's Products has determined that a small number of SnugRide Infant Car Seats may have missing hardware on the car seat and/or base. If any of the hardware is missing, the carrier may not be securely attached to the base and could result in the carrier separating from the base during a collision and cause serious and/or fatal injuries. The missing hardware, whether on the base or carrier, constitutes a non-compliance with the applicable safety standards and poses a serious safety related concern.
Geographic Distribution:
All across Canada
Safety Risk:
If any of the components are missing on the base and/or carrier, the carrier may not be securely attached to the base and the carrier could separate from the base resulting in serious and/or fatal injuries during a sudden stop or collision.
Background & Company Action:
On March 3, 2003 Graco Children's Products received two reports from US consumers that a SnugRide base was missing components to attach the carrier to the base. On March 4, 2003 Graco began an inspection of SnugRide inventory in their Ohio facilities for missing hooks. An inventory of 9,283 units was inspected and none of the units were found to be missing any attachment hardware.
At this time Graco has no reports of accidents, injuries or fatalities regarding the SnugRide missing hardware components.
The cause of the missing hardware components is attributed to a manufacturing error in which a very small number of bases and seat shells were not properly assembled.
There is no problem with the car seat when used without the base.
Consumer Action & Recourse:
Consumers are advised to inspect their Graco SnugRide car seat to determine the model number and date of manufacture of their unit. Each unit bears two labels with this information, one on the bottom of the carrier and the second one on the top of the base. Should you have an affected unit, you should call Graco Children's Products at 1-866-473-0163 and provide the model number and date of manufacture of their unit. In addition, the Graco website can be viewed at http://www.gracobaby.com.
The 3,233 consumers that have registered their restraint systems, they will be sent instructions on how to check the product and will receive a replacement for the affected car seat bases. The corrected units will be re-labelled. However, registered owners can call 1-866-473-0163 for more information.
Consumers who have not registered their restraint system are advised to contact Graco Children's Products at 1-866-473-0163 so that the company can send them instruction on how to check the product.
Owners who are uncertain about whether or not they have registered their unit should contact Graco Children's Products at the above number. Consumers should not return the affected unit(s) to the retailer.
The infant car seat can be safely used without the base until Elfe sends a replacement for the defective component at no cost to the consumer.
The infant car seats are not to be returned to the retailer.
SnugRide Infant Car Seat
Base
These pictures are for reference purposes only. Please refer to the phone numbers and Internet addresses listed under Consumer Action & Recourse.
Transport Canada: 1-800-333-0371