Easily Loosened Harness Prompts Recall of Popular Evenflo Child Seat

As any parent or guardian knows, little hands can get into big trouble. Such is the case for infants and toddlers using any of a series of popular child car seats made by Miamisburg, Ohio-based Evenflo. The company recently issued a voluntary recall of several car seats from its Transitions 3-in-1 Combination Booster Seat collection, warning parents and guardians that the seat’s harness adjuster button can be easily activated by a small child. This can cause the harness straps to loosen, leaving a child unrestrained and at great risk of injury in the case of an auto accident.

The recall affects upward of 56,000 child seats sold on Evenflo’s website and in stores nationwide. Recalled units were made before January 29 and carry these model numbers:

• • 34411686

• • 34411695

• • 34411029

The issue specifically affects children using the seat in the forward-facing harness mode. Those using recalled seats in the high-back belt-positioning mode or the no-back belt-positioning mode remain protected. To address the problem, Evenflo will provide free-of-charge remedy kits that include redesigned seat pads and replacement adjuster assemblies.

“If your child is only able to use the Transitions seat in harnessed mode because of his or her size and you’ve observed your child pulling back the seat pad to access the central front adjuster, please discontinue using the seat until you’ve installed the free remedy kit,” Evenflo Safety Advocate Sarah Haverstick said in a recent media release and consumer notice. “If your child is 40 pounds and 43 inches tall, fitting the requirements for using the seat in its two belt-positioning modes, or is not pulling back the seat pad in harnessed mode, the seat may be used safely until your remedy kit arrives.

“Evenflo identified this safety concern through our regular review of customer feedback,” Haverstick added. “We’re working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and publicizing the voluntary campaign via mail to registered consumers, notices to retailers and updates to social media channels. The safety of your children is of the greatest important to us.”

If your child uses one of the recalled Evenflo child car seats and has not been injured, contact Evenflo at www.transitions.evenflo.com or 1-800-233-5921 to arrange delivery of a remedy kit. If your child has suffered an injury that you believe the defect may be to blame, keep the child seat intact, get medical treatment for your child and call 800-251-1111 to speak with a product liability or auto accident attorney with Jacksonville’s Harrell and Harrell today.