[CM_ANGEL]

Tests Show Seats Could Separate From Base In Side Collisions

VANDALIA, Ohio -- Evenflo Company has issued a voluntary safety recall of 1 million Discovery infant car seats after tests showed that the seat could potentially become separated from its base in high-impact side collisions.

The recall affects Discovery Infant Car Seat Models 390, 391, 534 and 552, made between April 2005 and Jan. 29, 2008.

Evenflo and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted recent laboratory tests that brought the potential to light.


"We are parents, too, and protecting children is our core mission at Evenflo," said Rob Matteucci, CEO of Evenflo. "While our current Discovery car seat models have performed well to protect infants in actual side impact automobile collisions without any reports of serious injury or death since they were introduced, we want to take further steps to protect the safety of children who use our products."

Evenflo is providing current owners of the seat models with a free supplemental dual-hook fastener to ensure that the seat remains attached in such collisions.

The privately held company, based in suburban Dayton, Ohio, said it is also taking steps to improve future Discovery seat models. The updated seats will be available in the second quarter of 2008.

"Evenflo has taken the appropriate action today in recalling the Discovery child safety seat," said Nicole Nason, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Testing conducted by NHTSA and Evenflo has confirmed that these seats represent a potential safety risk to children in high-impact side collisions."

Evenflo said the Discovery consistently meets or exceeds existing government safety standards. The United States has not yet adopted a side impact standard for child restraints.

Evenflo said consumers should continue to use their Discovery infant car seat and that it isn't necessary to return the seats to retailers. The car seat also remains safe if installed without the base, Evenflo said.

Other infant carrier seats produced by Evenflo, including the company's other carrier that has a base installation system, the Embrace, meets all current government safety standards and has shown to be safe in testing and in real world incidents, Evenflo said.

To order the fastener, owners should call Evenflo at 1-800-356-2229 or visit www.evenflo.com/Discovery.

[CM_ANGEL]

This part makes me mad!! If the car seat could possibly cause injury to my child, you best believe I am returning it!!

"Evenflo said consumers should continue to use their Discovery infant car seat and that it isn't necessary to return the seats to retailers. The car seat also remains safe if installed without the base, Evenflo said."

[katjim00]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

Who in their right mind would continue to use a seat after a statement like that of safety concerns and what in the world is Evenflo thinking to say it's ok to keep using it. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen if they don't make it a mandatory recall! RIDICULOUS!!!

[elis123]

Kind of makes you wonder if we weren't a lot safer as babies than our own children are.

My mom still acts like a human seat belt (arms across the kids) when *I* am the one in the driver's seat. You had better bet she wasn't going to let go of me in a crash

Before anyone says anything, I know that carseats are a lot safer than just holding your child in the car - but seriously, how can a mother pick something safe for her child anymore? I read everything there is, and still there are recalls on everything. My Graco had a recall on the cover (it falls apart when washed! Luckily my kid is a clean one, and we haven't had to wash it). I received the letter about a month ago, including seat cover pattern choices totally different from the nice beige plaid I selected (and had to ORDER, I might add). I called Graco, and after arguing with 3 people, they agreed to send me a new pad in the same colors as the seat I own (gee, thanks.) Trouble is, I still haven't received a shipping confirmation, and it is STILL on backorder. My son is almost out of the seat already. Yeesh! And they recalled some of the bases because they were missing some of the hardware (same as the evenflo - seems to be a common problem). I mean if all of this is wrong with a snugride - which as far as I can tell is one of the highest rated models ... I am almost afraid to spend money on a convertible, considering I can't afford a Britax (though I noted a recall on one of their models the other day too!!)

ARRRRGGHHHH :