Cosco Arriva and Turnabout infant car seats/carriers
CPSC Recall #99-138 — July 7, 1999
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-138 |
| Recall Date | July 7, 1999 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 670,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Juvenile product |
| mass merchandise and major discount stores nationwide sold the car seats/carriers beginning in March 1995 for about $29 to $59 when sold alone |
| or $89 to $139 when sold with strollers. |
Product
Cosco Arriva and Turnabout infant car seats/carriers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Cosco Inc. of Columbus, Ind., is announcing the recall of about 670,000 Arriva and Turnabout infant car seats/carriers. When used as an infant carrier, the handle locks on each side of the seat can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward. When this happens, the infant can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries. "This is a serious problem that puts infants at risk," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "The handle locks on these car seat carriers can release without warning. Even if you regularly buckle your child into the seat, parents who have this car seat should call for a free repair kit immediately." There have been 151 reports of the handle of the car seat/carrier unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 29 injuries to children. These reports include skull fractures, a broken arm, bumps to the head, black eyes, scrapes and bruises. According to the reports, some injuries occurred to children who were restrained in the seat. "Parents should continue using these rear-facing infant car seats, but should not use the carrying handle until a repair kit has been installed," said NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez, M.D. "Safety is our highest priority. A child safety seat that is installed and used correctly is the most effective safety device available for young children in automobiles." The recall involves Arriva and Turnabout infant car seat/carrier models manufactured between March 1, 1995 and September 9, 1997. The manufacture date and model number are written on a label located on the side of the seat. The car seat/carriers have the following model numbers: Arriva Turnabout 02-665 02-729 02-731 02-732 02-733 02-751 02-756 02-757 02-758 02-759 02-760 02-761 02-762 02-763 02-764 02-765 02-667 If the car seat/carrier does not have the model name written on it, the unit can be identified by the model number and manufacturing date. Some car seats/carriers also were sold with strollers. Juvenile product, mass merchandise and major discount stores nationwide sold the car seats/carriers beginning in March 1995 for about $29 to $59 when sold alone, or $89 to $139 when sold with strollers. Seats manufactured after September 10, 1997 have newly designed handle locks. Cosco will provide a free repair kit that will make the handle stronger. The repair can easily be done in the home. Until a repair kit has been installed, CPSC, NHTSA and Cosco advise consumers not to carry the seat by the handle. Consumers may continue to use the product as a car seat or in combination with strollers. The CPSC, NHTSA and Cosco remind all parents and care-givers to properly restrain their infants in the car seat/carrier at all times. To receive a free repair kit or for more information, call Cosco at (800) 221-6736 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday, or visit Cosco's web site. Consumers with questions about this recall campaign can call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT (888) 327-4236) or (202) 366-0123 in the Washington, D.C., area [Ask for 99E-022]. Consumers also can call the CPSC Hotline at (800) 638-2772 for more information. This recall is the result of a cooperative investigation conducted by CPSC and NHTSA. More Information - Cosco: (800) 221-6736 - CPSC: (800) 638-2772 - NHTSA: (888) DASH-2-DOT or (888) 327-4236; web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Hazard
When used as an infant carrier, the handle locks on each side of the seat can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward. The infant can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been 151 reports of the handle of the car seat/carrier unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 29 injuries to children. These reports include skull fractures, a broken arm, bumps to the head, black eyes, scrapes and bruises. According to the reports, some injuries occurred to children who were restrained in the seat.
Remedy Instructions
Cosco will provide, free of charge, an easy-to-install repair kit. Check the label on the side of the product for the manufacturing date and one of the model numbers listed above. Contact Cosco toll-free at (800) 221-6736 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT M-F, or visit Cosco's website for a free repair kit or more information. Until you install the repair kit do not carry the seat by its handle, but by the head and foot of the seat. The seat can and should still be used as a car seat.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
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.