Harmony Juvenile Products – v7 structural failure

TP 14566 — Public Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2013-P01 E
May 24, 2013

Road Safety 
Information: 1-800-333-0371

Importer and distributor:
HARMONY JUVENILE PRODUCTS
2450, rue Cohen
Montreal, QC H4R 2N6

Consumer Contact:
1-877-306-1001

Models affected:
V7 Convertible Deluxe Car Seat (Model# 0302001TNC)

Dates of manufacture:
December 7, 2011 to November 2, 2012

Number of Units
9300

Geographic distribution:
Across Canada

Issue:

Harmony Juvenile Products and Transport Canada wish to inform the public of a non-compliance observed during compliance verification testing that was performed by Transport Canada.  During certain simulated crash tests with a 6 year-old test dummy, the bolts that secure the base of the V7 Convertible Deluxe Car Seat to the backrest were observed to tear through, or partially through, the plastic shell, leaving exposed sharp edges and protrusions.  This issue was observed during compliance testing using the restraint system in harness mode.

The Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Safety Regulations do not allow child restraints and booster seats to have exposed sharp edges and/or protruding surfaces following a dynamic compliance test.

Safety Risk:

In the event of a collision, it is possible that the bolts securing the base of the restraint system to the backrest could tear through the plastic, exposing sharp plastic edges that could injure a child occupant, or a parent/caregiver handling the child occupant or the restraint itself.

Company Action:

Transport Canada and Harmony Juvenile Products have actively investigated the non-compliance.  The company has tested and validated sample, reinforced V7 Convertible Deluxe Car Seats and has manufactured brackets to reinforce the existing product.

Consumer Recourse:

All registered consumers will receive the parts and installation instructions necessary to reinforce their car seats.  Non-registered owners of affected car seats, or owners who have moved, should contact Harmony Juvenile Products’ customer service department (1-877-306-1001) to receive instruction regarding obtaining the reinforcement parts.

In the interest of safety, Transport Canada and Harmony Juvenile Products would like to emphasize the importance of obtaining and installing the reinforcements as soon as possible, as the nature of this structural non-compliance may affect the overall safety of the restraint system if the connection between the backrest and base is compromised.  This could result in an unanticipated or unpredictable response in a vehicle crash. If consumers have been in a collision and have experienced this type of issue, it is requested that they contact Transport Canada’s office of defect investigations as soon as possible at 1-800-333-0510.

This restraint system may continue to be used as a booster seat, provided the manufacturer’s instructions are followed.  Special attention should be given to the need to pull the shoulder portion of the vehicle seat belt all the way out until the retractor is in the “automatic-locking retractor” mode.  Then, slowly let the seat belt retract until it is snug against your child, feed any remaining slack of the seat belt manually back into the retractor to tighten the whole system (if excess slack in the vehicle seat belt is not removed automatically), and ensure that the shoulder belt lies across the child’s shoulder (clavicle) and chest at all times, and NOT at the outside edge of the shoulder or across the child’s face or neck.

Consumers are also encouraged to review a separate Public Notice affecting the lower connectors of the Harmony V7 restraint system: Harmony Juvenile Products – V7 Non-Compliant Lower Connector System