RoadVitals

1997 Fisher Price Safe Embrace

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Nov 22, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jul 24, 1998
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Fisher Price Safe Embrace, most frequently naming the seat belts and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98C019000

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING

Jul 24, 1998
54,500 units potentially affected
The defect: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: MODEL 79700 SAFE EMBRACE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. THE HARNESS ADJUSTER, USED TO TIGHTEN AND LOCK THE HARNESS BELTS AROUND A CHILD, CAN MALFUNCTION IF A SPRING BREAKS OR DISLOCATES FROM THE CORRECT POSITION.
The risk: WHEN THE HARNESS ADJUSTER FAILS, IT WOULD NOT PROPERLY LOCK THE SHOULDER BELTS IN PLACE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CHILD MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED IN A CRASH.
The remedy: FISHER-PRICE WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A REVISED RESTRAINT ADJUSTER AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
FISHER-PRICEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 17
Seat belts
Filed Nov 22, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A FISHER PRICE, SAFE EMBRACE MODEL #79752. SHE SAID THE CHILD SEAT WAS UNSTEADY WHEN SHE TOOK IT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THE BACK PART OF THE SHELL FORMED A CRACK. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING PRIOR TO TAKING THE CHILD SEAT FROM THE CAR. THE CAR SEAT HAD BEEN IN THE SAME POSITION IN THE CAR FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A PARTIAL REFUND, AND INFORMED HER THAT THEY NO LONGER MANUFACTURER CAR SEATS. *AK THE SEAT SEPARATED AT THE BASE. UPDATED 12/05/05. *JB THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS PROVIDED TO DAD.

NHTSA ID
10143420
Incident
Oct 1, 2005
Seat belts
Filed Sep 1, 2004

FISHER PRICE MODEL 79752, DOM APRIL/22/2000. BASE MECHANISM BROKE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090165
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Seat belts
Filed Jun 20, 2004

FISHER-PRICE SAFE EMBRACE BOOSTER CAR SEAT - MODEL #79752 THE PLASTIC JOIN THAT CONNECTS THE UPPER AND LOWER PIECES HAS BROKEN ON BOTH SEATS PURCHASED. WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT AND/OR IF THE CAR SEAT IS STILL SAFE AS IS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10078502
Incident
Jun 9, 2004
Seat belts
Filed Apr 9, 2001

WE HAVE A FISHER-PRICE SAFE EMBRACE CAR SEAT WHICH WE HAVE HAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS. WE NOTICED A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE HARNESS. THE RATCHET BUCKLING DEVICE IS ATTACHED BY A SINGLE SCREW WHICH IS SECURED BY A THIN MEMBRANE OF PLASTIC. UPON NORMAL USE OF TIGHTENING THE BELT; PRESSURE ON THE MOUNTING SCREW HAS REFLOWED THE PLASTIC AND THE SCREW RECENTLY PULLED THROUGH LEAVING THE HARNESS LOOSE AND UNSECURED. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ANY POINT IN TIME, AND PARTICULAR UPON AN IMPACT, WHEN STRESSES ARE GREATEST.*AK

NHTSA ID
743739
Incident
Apr 6, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Mar 15, 2001

FISHER PRICE MODEL# 79700; RESTRAINT ADJUSTER BOLT HOLE NEEDS TO BE CHECKED FOR SIGN OF SEVERE STRESS. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *YH

NHTSA ID
883163
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 8, 2000

TREAD SEPARATION. HAVE REQUESTED REFUND FOR REPLACEMENT TIRE, BUT NO RESPONSE FROM FIRESTONE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 038040 TIRESIZE: 23575R15)

NHTSA ID
735974
Seat belts
Filed Jul 27, 2000

FISHER PRICE MODEL 79700, DOM 12-16-1997; NEW DESIGN HARNESS CLIP IS VERY EASY TO COME OFF DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH IN THE SPRING MECHANSIM INSIDE CLIP, CAUSING CHILD TO UNCLIP THE HARNESS CLIP AND GET OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
866128
Seat belts
Filed Nov 18, 1999

FISHER PRICE NEW SAFE EMBRACE CSS DOES NOT HAVE A HARNESS RETAINER CLIP. A BIG OPENING OVER THE CHILD CHEST, WHICH IN EVENT OF A CRASH, COULD CAUSE CHILD TO SLIP OUT OF THE HARNESS AND SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
853122