Cosco Full-Size Metal Baby Cribs

CPSC Recall #97-154 — July 8, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-154
Recall DateJuly 8, 1997
Remedy TypeNew Instructions, Repair
Units AffectedOver 390,000 full-size metal baby cribs

Where It Was Sold

Major national retail stores and baby specialty stores sold the cribs beginning in 1995 for about $90 to $150.

Product

Cosco Full-Size Metal Baby Cribs

Description

The Cosco cribs are on wheels and are made of tubular metal in a variety of colors. The cribs have date codes of 0195 or higher printed on a sticker located on the bottom of the end panel. List of model numbers and colors:   10T01 - Solid Red, White or Blue 10T85 - White 10T04 - Solid Red or White 10T94 - White 10T05 - Solid Red or White 10T95 - White and Brass 10T06 - Multiple Colors 10M06 - Multiple Colors 10T08 - White and Brass 10M84 - Multiple Colors 10T14 - White 10M85 - White 10T84 - Multiple Colors 10M94 -White

Hazard

Cribs may have been mis-assembled with the mattress platform being used as a side rail. The crib side rail and mattress platform are the same size and have been used in place of one another. CPSC standards limit the space between side rail slats to no more than 2 3/8 inches. If the crib's mattress platform is used as a side rail, the distance between the slats would be about 5 inches. Spacing this large enables an infant to become entrapped in the side rails, which could result in serious injury or death.

Incidents & Injuries

Cosco has received more than 47 reports of cribs being mis-assembled with the mattress platform being used as a side rail, including 27 reports of babies becoming entrapped, resulting in one death.

Remedy Instructions

To prevent death or injury, do not use a mis-assembled crib until it has been repaired. Cosco is offering all owners of mis-assembled cribs a free gift to encourage them to repair their cribs. Cosco is also offering all consumers who own these cribs an identification/warning sticker for placement on the mattress platform to prevent future mis-assembly. Consumers should call Cosco for this important sticker.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, 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 (New Instructions, Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.