NHTSA ANNOUNCES TWO SAFETY RECALLS OF EVENFLO CHILD SEATS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced two separate recalls of Evenflo child safety seats for failure to meet federal standards.

The first recall involves approximately 1,122,000 Evenflo Champion child seats manufactured between June 1, 1993 and Nov. 22, 1996, whose model numbers begin with 224, and 118,000 Evenflo Scout child seats manufactured between June 1, 1993 and Dec. 16, 1996, whose model numbers begin with 229. These Evenflo Champion and Scout models allowed chest forces higher than permitted by the federal safety standard when these adjustable models were dynamically tested in the forward-facing, upright position with dummy placed in them.

Evenflo has developed a retrofit kit to replace the existing recline arm with a shorter arm to prevent the child seat from being used in its most upright position. Owners can obtain this retrofit kit by calling Evenflo toll-free at (800) 490-7497.

The second recall involves approximately 150,000 Evenflo Champion, Trooper, and Scout child seats manufactured between Oct. 14, 1996 and Feb. 6, 1997, whose model numbers begin with 219, 224, 225, or 229. These Evenflo Champion, Trooper, and Scout models failed to meet the federal child safety seat standard's limits on the distance that the head travels forward when the seats were tested in a forward-facing position.

Evenflo will provide owners with a retrofit kit consisting of a new harness adjuster assembly to replace the existing harness adjuster assembly. Owners can obtain this retrofit kit by calling Evenflo toll-free at (800) 233-5921.

Retrofit kits are also available by writing to Evenflo Company, Inc., 1801 Commerce Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356.

Child seats with other model numbers are not affected by these recalls. Consumers with questions about these or any other safety recall campaign should call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393. The number to call in the Washington, DC, area is (202) 366-0123.