6/25/2003

CPSC, NHTSA, and Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. Announce Extended Recall of Infant Car Seats/Carriers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., of Columbus, Ind., is again voluntarily recalling Cosco Arriva and Turnabout infant car seats/carriers to address a problem with the carry handle. On July 8, 1999, the two federal agencies and Cosco, now known as the Dorel Juvenile Group, announced the recall of 670,000 of these infant car seat/carriers made from March 1995 through September 1997. This recall adds 1.2 million of the same model infant car seats/carriers made through January 2000. When the seat is used as a carrier, the plastic handle locks can unexpectedly break or release from the carrying position, causing the seat to unlatch or flip forward. When this happens, an infant can fall to the ground and suffer injuries. Dorel Juvenile Group has received 416 reports of the handle locks on the additional recalled infant car seats/carriers breaking or unlatching, resulting in nine injuries to children. These reports include injuries to the head and face, as well as various bruises. According to the reports, some injuries occurred to children restrained in the seat. The model number and manufacture date are located on the instruction and warning label on the side of the car seat/carrier. The recalled seats were manufactured on or before Jan. 31, 2000. Juvenile product, mass merchandise, department stores and major discount stores nationwide sold the Arriva and Turnabout infant car seats/carriers from Sept. 10, 1997 through December 2000 for between $30 and $60 when sold alone or $90 to $140 when sold with strollers. The recalled seats are no longer available for purchase. Consumers should continue to use the Arriva and Turnabout as a car seat but should stop using it as a carrier immediately and contact Dorel Juvenile Group to receive a free repair kit. Consumers can order a repair kit by calling 800-536-1090 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday. Consumers with questions about this recall campaign can call the CPSC Hotline at (800) 638-2772. Consumers also can call NHTSA�s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT/(888) 327-4236 (recall number 03C-004) or (202) 366-0123 for more information.