TP 14566
Public Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2007-P06 E
Manufacturer:
Graco Children's Products Inc.
150 Oaklands Boulevard
Exton, PA 19341
U.S.A.
Website: www.gracobaby.com
Importer and Distributor:
Elfe Juvenile Products
5171 Thimens Boulevard
Saint-Laurent, QC H4R 3C6
Website: www.graco.net
Consumer Contact:
Elfe Juvenile Products: 1-800-667-8184
Model and Model Number Affected:
Graco ComfortSport - 8C03WCFCA
Dates of Manufacture:
January 4, 2007 to February 28, 2007, inclusive
Number of Units:
1,045
Geographic Distribution:
Across Canada
Issue and Safety Risk:
During the assembly process, the Universal Anchorage System (UAS) belt in some of these restraint systems may have been routed incorrectly. As a result, when these restraint systems are installed in the rear-facing mode with the UAS belt, they may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213 - Child Restraint Systems. In this situation, the restraint system may rotate more than is permissible in a frontal crash. This increased rotation may increase the risk of injury to the child occupant of the restraint system.
To date, no injuries have been reported related to this issue.
The ComfortSport is an infant/child restraint system. It is sold to the consumer with the harness and the UAS belt configured as a rear-facing seat. If the restraint system is initially used in the rear-facing mode with the UAS belt, the belt may be incorrectly routed and this situation may go undetected. However, when it is converted to a forward-facing seat, the parent or caregiver must change the routing of the UAS belt as instructed. When reconfigured to forward facing in this manner, the problem is resolved.
Background and Company Action:
During routine dynamic sled testing performed on a rear-facing ComfortSport, Graco Children's Products ("Graco") discovered an incorrectly-routed, factory-installed UAS belt. The UAS belt was routed behind the lower portion of the harness instead of in front of the harness. Further investigation revealed that, as a consequence of this issue, increased seat back rotation may occur under dynamic sled test loading. Rear-facing dynamic sled tests performed on some restraint systems with this incorrect UAS belt routing experienced seat back angle results exceeding the maximum allowed 70 degrees. All other dynamic testing requirements of CMVSS 213 were consistently met.
Graco modified assembly and quality control procedures to prevent a recurrence of the UAS belt routing issue.
Consumer Action and Recourse:
Elfe Juvenile Products ("Elfe"), the Canadian importer and distributor of this product, is conducting a safety advisory program to alert consumers of the issue. Elfe will also provide to registered owners detailed instructions for examining and, if necessary, reconfiguring the UAS belt routing. Consumers should not return the affected units to a retailer.
Consumers who have not completed and returned the registration card should register their Graco ComfortSport online at www.graco.net or by contacting Elfe at 1-800-667-8184.
Parents and caregivers should not use the restraint system in the rear-facing mode with the UAS belt until the belt routing has been inspected and, if necessary, corrected. The vehicle seat belt can be used instead of the UAS belt in the meantime.
Consumers who have routed their UAS belt according to the instruction manual for use in the forward-facing mode are not affected by this safety advisory.
Transport Canada: 1-800-333-0371
Release Date: December 14, 2007