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American Morning

Three Million Child Car Seats Recalled for Safety Defect

Aired May 01, 2001 - 11:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: One of our top stories today is concerning young parents of young children. There is a major recall of child car seats to tell you about. It involves more than three million child car seats that double as infant carriers.

Joining us with the details is CNN's Elaine Quijano, she is in Washington. Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, the recall products are Evenflo Joyride baby carriers, which can also be used as car seats. Now, the problem is a potentially defective handle which could cause your baby serious injury.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANN BROWN, CPSC CHAIRWOMAN: Take the baby out of the car seat and you carry her in this and all of a sudden.

QUIJANO: The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are recalling 3.4 million Evenflo Joyride baby carriers because of a possible defect in the latch.

BROWN: They're fine when used as car seats, but it's when they're used as carriers that the problems occur.

QUIJANO: The recalled carriers have model numbers starting with 203, 205, 210, 435 or 493, and were sold in 1998. There have been 240 complaints of the handle unlatching and 97 injuries reported, including skull fractures, concussions, a broken leg, and bumps and bruises. Parents are being urged to contact Evenflo for a free repair kit.

BROWN: They should stop using the carrier as a carrier. They can continue using it as a car seat, but don't carry it as a carrier.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: Now, here is the number to call for that free repair kit. It's 1-800-557-3178. Once again, 1-800-557-3178. Now, we should also tell you there is a Web site set up where you can check out that same information. That address is www.joyridecarseat -- all one word -- .com. Now, there have been no reports of any deaths involving these carriers. This is the fifth recall of any child car seat or carrier since March of 1998. We're live in Washington. I'm Elaine Quijano.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Elaine, thank you very much.

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