NHTSA Safety Recall:Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seats

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today alerted owners of certain Graco SnugRide infant car seats of a recall to check for missing components on the base or the carrier shell. The company has announced a safety recall of 918,930 seats.

The missing components are metal hooks and their retainer pins on the base, and the mating "U" shaped bars on the carrier shell used to attach the carrier to the base. If the hooks, pins, or "U" bars are missing, the carrier may not be securely attached. In a sudden stop or crash, the carrier may detach from the base and possibly cause serious injury or death.

Included are Model Numbers 7493G9, 7493RS, 7497HL, 7497SY, 7499LK, 7499N2, 841101, 841102, 841103, 841203, 8412T02, 8457D5, 8457DVB, 8457F3, 8457GP, 8457IND, 8457MA, 8457MV, 8457RG, 8457TMJ, 8457TMP, 8457YL, 8458A5, 8458AE, 8458B7, 8458D8, 8458FKB, 8458HE, 8458HH, 8458KY, 8458N5, 8459VL, 8460LV, 8462HAV, 8462JAM, 8471UVB, 8472BLW, 8472BRN, 8472CYP, 8472GMP, 8472MAD, 8472YL, 8474HAB, 8474MEL, 8476VIN, 8477HAV, 8477JAM, 8477NGS, 8478SAR. Any model number listed preceded with an "A" is also included in the recall. The affected seats were manufactured from Aug. 31, 1999 through Feb. 28, 2002. The model number and date of manufacture are located on a white label under the seat area of the car seat or top of the base.

Graco strongly urges parents to inspect their SnugRide infant car seat as soon as possible. If the hooks, "U" bars, and pins are present and secure, owners can continue to use the car seat with the base. If there are missing hooks, "U" bars, or pins, DO NOT use the base, and call Graco at 1-800-345-4109 to receive a replacement seat or base. The seat can be used without the base.

NHTSA takes consumer complaints about child safety seats seriously. It energetically investigates questions concerning possible defects in child safety seats and requires that defects be remedied. Child safety seats are the most effective safety devices in cars when used properly, and NHTSA unequivocally promotes their use. Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.

For more information about this recall, owners should write to Graco Children's Products, Inc., P.O. Box 100, Elverson, PA 19520.

Consumers with questions about this or any other safety recall campaign should call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline (888) 327-4236. Consumers in the Washington, D.C., area should call (202) 366-0123.