For the fourth time this year, Graco Children’s Products, in tandem with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a massive recall for one of Graco’s infant products. In what the New York Times is dubbing the “largest recall of strollers ever”, last week Graco urged nearly two million owners of older-model Quattro Tour and MetroLite stroller and car seat/stroller combo “travel systems” to stop using their product due to strangulation concerns.
New York City personal injury attorney Nicholas Rose has noticed that this is the second Graco stroller recall in 2010 alone. Earlier this year, Graco recalled 1.5 million of their Passage, Alano and Spree stroller models. All models were manufactured between 2004 and 2008 and all pose some risk of laceration and amputation injury.
In addition, Graco issued a 2010 recall for 1.2 million Harmony Highchairs manufactured between 2003 and 2009 due to a tip over risk. They also issued a recall on their Simplicity and Drop Side Crib by LaJobi after it was determined that both pose entrapment and possible strangulation hazards.
Since 2003, four infants have died and five more have sustained entrapment injuries after become stuck between the seat bottom and handrest bar or stroller tray. To date, all reported injuries or deaths have been linked to unharnessed children who have slipped or crawled and become stuck in the seat bottom of the Quattro Tour and MetroLite models. Graco and the CPSC both urge parents to NEVER leave a child in a stroller or car seat unsupervised or without proper restraints in use.
Graco is providing a free repair kit to correct the problem and is advising parents not to return the strollers to the store where they were purchased. The kit includes a cloth piece with leg holes that straps across the front of the stroller and blocks access to the opening.
Graco officials said they were especially concerned about a prompt and widespread recall because so many families in the current economy are turning to resale products and secondhand items are often significantly discounted from their original price. Considering the original sticker price ranged from $90-$190 for the strollers and between $190-250 for the travel systems, both are popular items at resale shops. Affected stroller models were sold at a host of national retailers from Kmart to Sears between 2000 and 2007 and both Graco and the CPSC have posted model numbers on their websites.
And Graco is not the only child product manufacturer to struggle with recalls in 2010. So far this year more than 100 children’s products and toys have been recalled due to potential and reported incidence of injury or hazard.
As a New York City personal injury lawyer, Nicholas Rose understands that being injured in an accident is often one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. We would like you to know we are available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
