For release
July 18, 2007

Important Safety Information
on Combi Centre Infant Car Seat Universal Anchorage System (UAS) Belt Replacement

Transport Canada is advising the public that when using the Combi Centre infant car seat in a vehicle with the original Canadian UAS belt (also referred to as the lower anchor strap) connectors and the adjustable recline foot in the fully extended position, the adjustable recline foot may change its adjustment position during an impact introducing slack into the UAS belt. This represents a non-compliance to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213.1 Any slack induced in the UAS belt could cause the infant restraint system to function differently in a secondary collision event (e.g., a rollover, a second frontal, side or rear-end impact, etc.) and could increase the risk of injury to the infant occupant in the car seat or other occupants of the vehicle.

The following model and model numbers are affected: Centre DX – 789462; Cosmo ST Travel System – 714650. (Note: A travel system includes a stroller, an infant car seat, and a car seat base.)

Consumers who have completed and returned their registration card, or registered their infant car seat on-line at www.combi.ca, will receive a free replacement Canadian UAS belt kit by mail. The kit will include a replacement Canadian UAS belt, UAS belt replacement instructions, as well as an instruction manual update. Those who have not registered their infant car seat should contact ISIS Inc. at 1-800-667-4111.

Until the replacement Canadian UAS belt kit is received, if the adjustable recline foot must be extended in order to install the base at the correct angle, parents and caregivers should use the vehicle seat belt instead of the UAS belt to secure the infant car seat in the vehicle. Consumers should not return the affected units to a retailer.

Under routine dynamic sled tests conducted as part of Transport Canada's compliance testing program, movement in the adjustable recline foot was observed while using the UAS installation method. A comprehensive investigation was opened and an additional test was conducted with the same results. In all other configurations, this infant car seat otherwise met all applicable dynamic testing requirements of CMVSS 213.1.

The manufacturer and the importer were advised of the sled test results on March 6, 2007. Combi USA, Inc. conducted additional sled tests to duplicate the Canadian results, and to experiment with alternate UAS belt connectors. Results showed no movement of the adjustment foot using alternate UAS belt connectors.

Subsequent to the U.S. laboratory test results, a replacement UAS belt was selected for validation testing in Canada. Successful results were obtained in all three dynamic sled tests using the replacement UAS belt.

A public information notice issued by Transport Canada on July 12, 2007, and further information on the Combi Centre infant car seat UAS belt replacement can be found on Transport Canada’s website at: www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/tp14566P/2007p03/menu.htm.

Media requiring more information:
Jessie Chauhan
Transport Canada
(613) 993-0055

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