Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat Recall for Handle Release Hazard
Evenflo is recalling about 450,000 Embrace infant car seats because the handle can release unexpectedly, causing the seat to rotate and infants to fall.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves significant injury reports, including a skull fracture and concussions, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe category.
Plain-English summary
Evenflo Company Inc. is recalling approximately 450,000 Embrace infant car seat/carriers due to a safety hazard. When used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to rotate forward. This mechanism failure can result in an infant inside the carrier falling to the ground.
Evenflo has received 679 reports of the handle releasing unexpectedly, resulting in 160 injuries to children. Reported injuries include a skull fracture, two concussions, cuts, scrapes, and bruises. The recall involves units made before April 8, 2006, with model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 548, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598, or 599. These products were sold nationwide from December 2004 through September 2006.
Consumers should not use the handle until a repair kit is installed. The product can continue to be used as a car seat when secured in a vehicle. Consumers should contact Evenflo to receive a free repair kit that strengthens the handle latch. The recalled units should not be returned to the retailer.
The recalled product
- Product
- Evenflo Embrace™ Infant Car Seat/Carriers
- Manufacturer
- Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio
- Affected units
- 450,000
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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