Petrus Umbrella Stroller
CPSC Recall #91-034 — January 29, 1991
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 91-034 |
| Recall Date | January 29, 1991 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 100,000 |
Product
Petrus Umbrella Stroller
Description
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 1991 Release # 91-034 WASHINGTON, DC - Petrus Imports, Inc. of Framingham, MA today announced it is voluntarily making available to consumers a free modification kit for approximately 100,000 late model Petrus umbrella strollers. Undertaken in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the modification program involves Petrus stroller models 1000, 1100 and 1101 sold nationally by Service Merchandise, Caldor's, Zayre's and Ames. Model numbers are found on the instruction sheet and on a label on the stroller's rear legs. On some model 1101 strollers, the label on the stroller is partly handwritten and reads "1101/PTR." The model 1100 strollers were distributed between November 1987 and December 1988, while the model 1101 strollers were distributed between May 1988 and August 1989. The model 1000 strollers were distributed between November 1987 and June 1988. The seat belts on these models may not restrain properly, and the tube end plugs may come off on strollers manufactured in Taiwan. (See "Date of Manufacture" label for country of origin.) When a toddler strapped into the stroller leans too far forward, the child may fall forward and possibly strike his head on the ground or on the front of the stroller. The Commission and the firm are aware of six consumer complaints associated with the restraint system, including three minor injuries to young children. One other complaint concerned a loose tube end plug found in a stroller box which could pose a choking hazard to a young child who places the plug in the mouth. No choking incidents have been reported. Consumers should call Petrus Imports, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-752-7740 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) for a free modification kit. Consumers may also write Petrus Imports, Inc., P.O. Box 967, Framingham, MA 01701, Attn: Ms Stamos. The CPSC is announcing this modification program as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for product safety. Some 15,000 types of products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction and each year these products are involved in an estimated 30 million injuries and 22,000 deaths.
Hazard
The seat belts on these models may not restrain properly, and the tube end plugs may come off on strollers manufactured in Taiwan. When a toddler strapped into the stroller leans too far forward, the child may fall forward and possibly strike his head on the ground or on the front of the stroller.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission and the firm are aware of six consumer complaints associated with the restraint system, including three minor injuries to young children. One other complaint concerned a loose tube end plug found in a stroller box which could pose a choking hazard to a young child who places the plug in the mouth. No choking incidents have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Free repair kit
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.