NHTSA Investigation PE07038

CHOKING ON CHILD SEAT STYROFOAM

EVENFLO IS RECALLING CERTAIN TRIUMPH CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS MANUFACTURED BEFORE NOVEMBER 2005.MODEL NUMBERS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL START WITH 264, 359 OR 389.THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 07C-008.SINCE 2003, ODI HAS RECEIVED 12 COMPLAINTS OF A CHOKING HAZARD INVOLVING THE SUBJECT CHILD SEATS.THE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE STYROFOAM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT CLOTH COVER AND BREAK OFF PIECES OF STYROFOAM.TEN (10) OF THE 12 COMPLAINANTS STATED THAT THE CHILD ALSO PLACED THE BROKEN STYROFOAM PIECES INTO THEIR MOUTHS; IN THREE CASES, THE CHILD WAS CHOKING AND IN ONE CASE THE CHILD WAS GAGGING.THE SUBJECT SEATS CONTAIN STYROFOAM PADS ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT'S PLASTIC SHELL.THE STYROFOAM IS BENEATH A REMOVABLE PADDED FABRIC COVER THAT ATTACHES TO THE SEAT WITH J-HOOKS.MOST SEATS PRODUCED BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 CONTAINED COVERS THAT ATTACHED TO THE SHELL USING 6 J-HOOKS.EVENFLO IS RECALLING ALL SEATS PRODUCED WITH 6 J-HOOKS.EVENFLO REPORTS THAT UNITS BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2005 INCLUDE TWO ADDITIONAL MECHANICAL ATTACHMENTS [J-HOOKS] FOR THE CLOTH COVER AT THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE OCCUPANT'S THIGHS THAT RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE FOAM LINER. ODI FINDS THAT THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR THE 8 J-HOOK FABRIC COVER IS ONE-EIGHTH THAT OF THE 6 J-HOOK FABRIC COVER.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

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.