Chaperone Infant car seats
CPSC Recall #11-031 - November 3, 2010
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 11-031 |
| Recall Date | November 3, 2010 |
| Remedy Type | Replace, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 23,000 |
| Importer | Britax Child Safety Inc., of Charlotte, N.C. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Mass and independent retailers nationwide and on the Britax website from June 2009 to October 2010 for about $230. |
Product
Chaperone Infant car seats
Description
The recall includes Chaperone infant car seats with model numbers E9L69N9 (Moonstone), E9L69P2 (Red Mill), E9L69P3 (Savannah) and E9L69P5 (Cowmooflage) sold in the U.S. All recalled models were manufactured between April 2009 and May 2010. The white serial label with the seat’s serial number, model number, and manufacture date can be found on the underside of the car seat.
Hazard
The harness chest clip can break and pose a laceration hazard. Due to its small size it also poses a choking hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received four reports of the chest clip breaking. Injuries from three reports included minor lacerations and scratches to arms and a finger; and one report involved an infant placing the clip in his mouth.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately contact Britax for a free repair kit, which includes a replacement chest clip. Registered owners have been directly contacted by Britax. This product was also recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Recall Notice: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10C006000&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=rss.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace, Repair) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside, if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.