Evenflo Joyride Car Seats/Carriers
CPSC Recall #01-137 — April 30, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-137 |
| Recall Date | April 30, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 3.4 million |
Where It Was Sold
| Juvenile product |
| mass merchandise and major discount stores nationwide sold the car seats/carriers from January 1988 through December 1998 for about $30 when sold alone |
| $48 when sold as a Travel Tandem® (with a detachable convenience base) |
| and $89 when sold with a matching stroller. |
Product
Evenflo Joyride 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), Evenflo Co. Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio, is recalling about 3.4 million Joyride® infant car seats/carriers. When the seat is used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward. When this happens, an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.There have been 240 reports, in the United States, of handles unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 97 injuries. These reports include skull fractures, concussions, a broken leg, and numerous scratches and bruises."Evenflo is offering a free repair to prevent the seat from flipping forward," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "It's an easy repair to make, and it is designed to protect your baby from a very serious injury.""Riding in a car seat in the vehicle's rear seat is the safest way to transport young children in a motor vehicle," said NHTSA Executive Director Bob Shelton. "The recall announced today is related to only using the seat as a carrier and not to how the seat performs while in a car. Parents should continue to use these carriers as car seats."The recall involves all Evenflo Joyride® car seats/carriers, which are white or gray plastic with seat pads of various colors and patterns. "Evenflo Joyride Car Seat/Carrier" is written on the outside of the handle locks. The seats have model numbers beginning with 203, 205, 210, 435 or 493, which can be found on a label underneath or on the side the car seat/carrier.Juvenile product, mass merchandise and major discount stores nationwide sold the car seats/carriers from January 1988 through December 1998 for about $30 when sold alone, $48 when sold as a Travel Tandem® (with a detachable convenience base), and $89 when sold with a matching stroller.Evenflo will provide consumers with a free easy-to-install repair kit that helps secure the handle. Consumers should not carry the seat by the handle until it has been repaired. CPSC, NHTSA and Evenflo remind caregivers to always restrain infants according to the instructions when in the car seat/carrier.To receive a free repair kit, call Evenflo toll-free at (800) 557-3178 anytime, or visit the website at http://www.joyridecarseat.com/. Consumers should have the car seat in front of them when they call or access the website. Consumers with questions about this recall campaign should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or visit CPSC's website at www.cpsc.gov. Information also is available at the NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT (327-4236) or visit NHTSA's website at www.nhtsa.gov.The recall results from a cooperative investigation conducted by NHTSA and CPSC, which has led to several recalls in the industry for similar problems.Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (transcript). This is in "streaming video" format.
Hazard
When the seat is used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward. When this happens, an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been 240 reports, in the United States, of handles unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 97 injuries. These reports include skull fractures, concussions, a broken leg, and numerous scratches and bruises.
Remedy Instructions
Evenflo will provide consumers with a free easy-to-install repair kit that helps secure the handle. Consumers should not carry the seat by the handle until it has been repaired. CPSC, NHTSA and Evenflo remind caregivers to always restrain infants according to the instructions when in the car seat/carrier.
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.