Safety 1st and Beatrix Potter "Designer 22" infant car seats/carriers
CPSC Recall #02-164 — May 19, 2002
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 02-164 |
| Recall Date | May 19, 2002 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 26,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Mass merchandise and department stores nationwide sold the "Designer 22" infant car seats/carriers from January 2002 through April 2002 for between $40 and $70. None of the car seats/carriers was sold in Canada. |
Product
Safety 1st and Beatrix Potter "Designer 22" 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), Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., of Columbus, Ind., is voluntarily recalling about 26,000 Safety 1st and Beatrix Potter "Designer 22" infant car seats/carriers. When the seat is used as a carrier, the plastic handle can unexpectedly release from the carrying position. When this happens, an unrestrained infant can fall to the ground and suffer injuries.Dorel Juvenile Group has received four reports of the handle releasing. No injuries were reported.The recalled car seats/carriers were sold under the Safety 1st and Beatrix Potter "Designer 22" brand names and were manufactured by Dorel Juvenile Group in the U.S. The seats were manufactured between January 3, 2002 and February 13, 2002. Only model numbers and color codes 02-621-SAL, 02-620-AZY and 02-620-BEA are included in this recall. The model number and manufacture date are located on the instruction and warning label on the side of the car seat/carrier.Mass merchandise and department stores nationwide sold the "Designer 22" infant car seats/carriers from January 2002 through April 2002 for between $40 and $70. None of the car seats/carriers was sold in Canada.Consumers can continue to use the "Designer 22" as a car seat but should stop using it as a carrier immediately and contact Dorel Juvenile Group to receive a repair kit. Consumers can contact Dorel at the firm's website at www.djgusa.com, fax (800) 207-8182 or call (800) 536-1090 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday. Consumers with questions about this recall campaign can call the CPSC Hotline at (800) 638-2772. Consumers also can call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT/(888) 327-4236 (recall number 02E-027) or (202) 366-0123 for more information.
Hazard
When the seat is used as a carrier, the plastic handle can unexpectedly release from the carrying position. When this happens, an unrestrained infant can fall to the ground and suffer injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
Dorel Juvenile Group has received four reports of the handle releasing. No injuries were reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers can continue to use the "Designer 22" as a car seat but should stop using it as a carrier immediately and contact Dorel Juvenile Group to receive a 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.