Combi USA recalls 67,000 infant car seats

Combi USA today announced that it is recalling 67,000 child safety seats because the seat can potentially become separated from its base and fail to adequately protect children in a frontal collision. The seats and travel systems being recalled are the Centre, Centre ARB, and Shuttle rear-facing infant seat models 8065, 8074, 8086, 8087, 8520 and the travel systems that contain these seat models 4400, 4515 and 4520.  The recall includes the entire production of these models from October 2005 through December 2007.

According to the manufacturer, the flaw was revealed in tests that it conducted recently with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transport Canada. Combi USA has received no reports of injuries to date regarding the recalled infant safety restraints.

Combi is offering owners of the seat a retrofit kit that can be ordered through its Web site (www.combi-intl.com) or by calling (800) 543-7734. The kit should arrive within 6-8 weeks. In the meantime, Combi recommends that owners use the seat without the base. Owners can refer to the instruction manual for how to install the seat without the base. The seats were designed for use with or without the base.

Consumers with questions about this or any other safety recall campaign may call NHTSA's toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline 888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov. For more information, see Consumer Reports car seat Ratings.

Comments

[Michael Paine]

There is an urgent need for the USA to introduce NCAP-style performance tests of child seats. Australia has been doing this for 15 years. The child seats are subjected to higher deceleration than required under regulations and design deficiencies are revealed.

[Tim Bielik]

I hate working in baby retail since there are so many things that get recalled that we used to sell at our stores...grrrr...