NHTSA Investigation PE06034

HEADREST/HARNESS ADJUSTMENT BAR FAILS

ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE SCREWS ATTACHING THE ADJUSTER BAR TO THE HEADREST LOOSEN AND DETACH.THIS MAY ALLOW THE ADJUSTER BAR TO FALL APART AND PREVENTS PROPER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE HARNESS STRAPS AND HEADREST.THE SCREWS ARE BEHIND THE SEATING AREA OF THE INFANT AND DO NOT FALL INTO THE CHILD'S REACH.DOREL JUVENILE GROUP (DJG) CONDUCTED SIX FMVSS 213 DYNAMIC TESTS ON SAMPLE SEATS COLLECTED FROM OWNERS.THE TEST WERE CONDUCTED WITH VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS OF THE SCREWS NOT ATTACHED TO THE ADJUSTER BAR.THESE TESTS SIMULATE A FRONT IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH AT 30 MPH WITH A CHILD DUMMY POSITIONED AND BELTED PROPERLY IN THE CHILD SEAT.DOREL REPORTS THAT THE DUMMY KINEMATICS WERE NORMAL AND THE INJURY SCORES WERE WELL WITHIN THE FMVSS 213 REQUIREMENTS.THE COMPLAINT TREND HAS DIMINISHED OVER TIME.THE LAST COMPLAINT RECEIVED BY ODI WAS IN MAY OF 2006 AND DOREL HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ADJUSTER BAR SINCE 2005.A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.