Graco recalls 2 million strollers after 4 infants strangle
Filed under: Recalls, Shopping, Consumer Ally, In the News
Deaths in strollers are rare (about two a year on average) and this is believed to be the first stroller recall ever linked to a death. This stroller recall is particularly alarming given that the deaths occurred between 2003 and 2005 and parents have been unaware of the danger.
CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson told Consumer Ally that he does not know of any deaths connected to prior stroller recalls and that this recall was issued now as a result of a hard look at stroller safety.
"Today's Graco stroller recall is tied to an effort by CPSC to do a new review of old stroller incidents," he said. "Our concern with the recalled Graco strollers is that they pose a serious entrapment hazard and need to repair to prevent further deaths or injuries."
If you have one of the strollers you should stop using it until you get a repair kit from Graco. It is still safe, the CPSC said, to use car seat in the travel system models being recalled.
The executive director of Kids in Danger, one of the nation's most prominent child safety advocacy groups, told Consumer Ally she can't understand why it took so long after the first death to issue this recall.
"The fatal flaws in these strollers were obvious once the first child died -- in 2003," Nancy Cowles said. "And yet here we are seven years later just getting around to alerting parents to the danger. We're glad to see these strollers recalled, but wonder what was the delay?"
In addition to the four deaths in these Chinese-made strollers, the CPSC said there were at least five other incidents in which infants were trapped in these strollers -- including one in which a baby was left gasping for air.
Just last week the CPSC issued a safety alert about strollers following the relatively small recall of two lesser known strollers. The agency warned parents to not leave babies sleeping unattended in strollers.
The risk to infants, the CPSC said, is that an infant -- when not harnessed -- can slide though the opening between the stroller tray and the bottom of the seat and get trapped by the tray The agency said the industry standard for how strollers are made was changed in 2008, so only those strollers made prior to that are being recalled. The change, a voluntary standard adhered to by most manufacturers, increased the size of the openings to prevent the risk of infants being trapped and strangled.
Cowles said the standard was changed back then, in part, because of the deaths. Details of the deaths were provided in 2004 to an industry committee the CPSC is part of, she said.
"This incident was well known," Cowles said.
Graco Quattro Tour strollers and travel systems made before November 2006 are subject to the recall. Metro Lite strollers and travel systems made before July 2007 are being recalled. They were sold nationwide between November 2000 and December 2007 for $100-$250.
Model numbers can be found above the rear wheels or underneath the strollers. The recalled models are:
- Quattro Tour strollers 35735, 35759, 7111ASB, 7111BKW, 7111CLN, 7111CUN, 7111DIA, 7111HEA, 7111HIG,7111LAG, 7111KSH, 7112CNP, 7112MTR, 7113CJR, 7113CMR, 7113COT, 7119GGG, 7119WSR, 7121MAY, 7125QST, 7126RNS, 7127LEG, 7132RXY, 7134SMB, 7138RNS.
- Quattro travel system models: 35760, 7411ATR, 7411BGN, 7411BGN2, 7411BLB, 7411KBK, 7411KBK2, 7411LV, 7411MCH, 7411MCH2, 7411MLY, 7411MLY2, 7419LIM, 7419LIM2, 7419OWD2, 7B00BDA, 7B00DRB, 7B00KAS, 7B01MNS, 7B03CST2, 7B03LTC2, 7B03TFE2.
- MetroLite strollers: 1104, 1240, 6110DW, 6110F3, 6110S7, 6110TS7, 6111FKB, 6111VIN, 6113SCR, 6114HAV, 6114JAM,6114LAG, 6114NGS, 6116NRF, 6120SHL, 6121CJG, 6121CNP, 6121GGG, 6121MTR, 6123EME, 6124LRD, 6125SMB, 6J01DAI, 6J01HRL, 6J03RIT, 6J04JEN, 6J05MIN.
- MetroLite travel systems: 1070, 7000KSB, 7308DEL, 7308DEL2, 7308DEL4, 7308TYR, 7308TYR2, 7406PLT, 7408MRT,7409GRG, 7410CON, 7413CML, 7413MRN, C7413CML.
Earlier this year, Graco recalled 1.5 million strollers after a series of fingertip amputations.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-20-2010 @ 8:40AM
aitaileibuzy said...
Graco Quattro Tour strollers and travel systems made before November 2006 are subject to the recall. Metro Lite strollers and travel systems made before July 2007 are being recalled. They were sold nationwide between November 2000 and December 2007 for $100-$250.
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Reply
10-20-2010 @ 9:03AM
Patty said...
Wow! How could that happen? Http://www.childrenshealthsecrets.com I'm always watching my kids and checking on them.
10-20-2010 @ 11:55AM
tuweixianfeng said...
sorry to hear of the infants dying. i guess graco needs to let the americans here make there strollers. these large companies need to quit outsourcing our jobs. we need to stop buying overseas stuff. i know it's kinda hard not to since almost everything is made overseas, but i do try not to buy from other countries.My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He is eight years older than me, lol. We met online at agegapsing les. c om a nice and free place for younger women and older men, or older women and younger men, to interact with each other. Maybe you wanna check out or tell your friends.
10-20-2010 @ 8:56AM
Jamie said...
How about parents pay closer attention to their children while they're in strollers and carseats. I don't think a company should be responsible for recalling their product when, if it is used properly...like buckling the child in, it is safe. People kill me wanting to find someone to blame for their own negligence.
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10-20-2010 @ 10:04AM
Erin said...
I absolutely agree 100%! I think that every time something else is recalled for a reason like this. If you keep an eye on your child and make sure they are restrained properly these things won't happen.
10-20-2010 @ 10:27AM
carousel said...
Jamie,
I couldn't agree with you more! The loss of a child is incomprehensible . . . but if parents watched their children most of these accidents wouldn't happen. Stop blaming others because you don't watch your children. Not to say, that some accidents can happen no matter what a parent does.
10-20-2010 @ 10:31AM
Mary Anne said...
This is SAD that the recall is JUST NOW happening when the deaths occurred this many YEARS AGO!!!! So many other children could've been hurt too! Parents need to keep a close eye on their kids, there's no doubt, but it's true that somethings happen in an instant. Most parent's are trying their bests to care for their families as well as they can. If you haven't already seen Baby Landing, you may enjoy the coupons and free samples of formula, diapers and other baby items they offer. It's http://bit.ly/BABYlanding Every thing we can get for free certainly helps these days.
10-20-2010 @ 10:35AM
mcm said...
SO right!!!! Why in the world would a stroller also have a warning to remove the child BEFORE folding. Accidents happen-even tragic ones, but it takes 4-5 minutes for a child to DIE-and they are in a STROLLER, which should have a parent or guardian RIGHT there. So, this company has to recall their product for stupidity. Makes absolutely no sense.
10-20-2010 @ 9:13AM
Albert Lebel said...
Awe cummon people. How long do you have to leave your infant unattended for this to happen. Pay attention to your child at all times. If you dont have time for them, dont fricken have them. Lets take a better look at parenting also ok.
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10-20-2010 @ 9:50AM
Parissa said...
Why were these infants in a stoller to start with? Infants need to be carried or held close in a 'wrap' or placed in an infant carrier where they can lie prone and are gently, but securely, strapped in! Strollers are NOT made for infants ~ they are made for children old enough and strong eough to sit upright! But even if placed in an infant carrier ... Check! Check! And recheck CONSTANTLY! I'm SO very sorry about the losses these families have sustained and endured! I can't imagine the anguish and pain they must have endured ~ and still do. But infants DO NOT BELONG in strollers! Use a baby-carrier that can be positioned properly ~ and safely ~ in it's corresponding car seat holder or that can be secured in other appropriate devices ... but ALWAYS within immediate view and reach of the infant!
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10-20-2010 @ 10:08AM
doug said...
4 out of 2 million. They don't recall autos after such a small number deaths.
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10-20-2010 @ 10:14AM
Brandon said...
I have this stroller (the Quattro), but I'm not worried about it. I just went to their site to see exactly what the issue is. Apparently, if you don't put the harness on, a baby can slip down and catch their head on the tray and get "strangled". Well, if the kid didn't catch that, it'd fall out of the seat on to the ground. Which means you're an idiot for not having the harness on. Which should just be a given if you have any kind of stroller, anyhow. Also, how unobservant are you if your kid slips down and is hanging there, and you don't notice for long enough that the kid can suffocate?
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10-20-2010 @ 10:20AM
peteydog said...
stop buying chinese made products period.....
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10-20-2010 @ 10:27AM
Carole said...
Chinese made strollers???? Thank you GW Bush for your illegal war and putting us so deep in debt to China that we'll never get out. China owns us now and we are forced to take their inferior exports. Children dying, pets dying, inferior products and food and yet we still are forced to import. Disgusting!
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10-20-2010 @ 10:49AM
Michele said...
Why is GW Bush to blame for everything? The reason we import everything from China is because it is CHEAP labor to make all of these products. Americans love to purchase everything from big box stores for no money. I would prefer we made quality products in America and kept the jobs here, but who is going to be able to afford them? We have to pay our workers a minimum wage which would drive up the cost of all of these products. I agree that Bush made mistakes as President, but that does not mean that every negative thing that has happened since then is HIS fault!
10-20-2010 @ 12:43PM
IAMINCHRIST said...
AMEN Michele. I so agree! Most of our items come from CHINA because we are a GREEDY nation. That is why our economy is the way it is. Because so many people want eveyrthing for FREE. What ever happened to working hard to make a living. Too many lazy Americans. And we wonder why unemployment is up.
10-20-2010 @ 10:36AM
CMG said...
WHEN IS AMERICA GONNA LEARN NOT TO BUY STUFF FROM CHINA, THEY ARE STILL KILLING OUR KID'S WITH SOMETHING THEY MAKE, BUY AMERICAN AND PUT THIS COUNRTY BACK TO WORK.I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!
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10-20-2010 @ 10:54AM
David said...
Harness the kid, and save millions of dollars! The fault appears to be with parents who don't follow simple safety guidelines!!!!
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10-20-2010 @ 11:01AM
Carolyn said...
I feel for the parents who lose ther children & their innocent children, but much more so for the children when their parents don't follow proper guidelines & especially when they don't use their common sense. So many recalls are completely uncalled for, such as this one.
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10-20-2010 @ 10:59AM
RLK said...
I had the Metrolite when my daughter was born in 2005. Never had a problem with it. But I used it correctly. The car seat should be attached to the stroller when the child is an infant. And then when they get older use the stroller. This is the parents fault not Graco's. If people paid attention to their babies this would not happen. How many hours is the baby in the stroller? How do you not notice the baby has slid down and become trapped? This is parent negligence. I feel bad for their loss. But where is the common sense here!
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