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Combi Centre Infant Car Seat UAS Belt Replacement |
TP14566
Public Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2007-P03 E |
Manufacturer: |
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Combi USA, Inc.
1962 Highway 160 W, Suite 100
Fort Mill, SC 29708-8027
U.S.A.
Tel.: 803-548-6633
Fax: 803-548-3663
Website: www.combi-intl.com |
Importer, Distributor and Consumer
Contact: |
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ISIS Inc.
2260 Guénette Street
Saint-Laurent, QC H4R 2M7
Tel.: 514-344-3045
Toll-Free: 1-800-667-4111
Fax: 514-344-3296
Website: www.combi.ca |
Models and Model Numbers Affected: |
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Centre DX – 789462
Cosmo ST Travel System – 714650 |
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Note: A travel system includes a
stroller, an infant car seat, and a car seat base. |
Dates of Manufacture: |
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August 5 and 7, 2006 |
Number of Units: |
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203 |
Geographic Distribution: |
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Across Canada |
Issue:
When using the infant car seat in a vehicle with the UAS belt (also referred
to as the lower anchor strap) and with the adjustable recline foot extended, the
adjustable recline foot may move from its original adjustment position during an
impact introducing slack into the UAS belt.
Background and Company Action:
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. The infant
car seat changed its adjustment position during the simulated impact test when
the initially fully extended adjustable recline foot collapsed. This represents
a non-compliance to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 213.1 – Infant
Restraint Systems. 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. A meeting was held at the Defence Research and Development Canada
(DRDC) Toronto Impact Studies Facility on March 22, 2007 with all involved
parties to discuss the issue and examine the test samples and video. From this
meeting, it was determined that the Canadian UAS belt connectors (also referred
to as lower anchor connectors) were the cause of the test failures. During the
tests, the UAS belt connectors caught and pulled on the recline foot adjustment
panel causing the change in adjustment position. Combi USA, Inc. conducted
additional sled tests at a U.S. facility to duplicate the results achieved at
DRDC Toronto 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. Successful results were obtained in all three
dynamic sled tests conducted at DRDC Toronto on May 9 and 10, 2007 using the
replacement UAS belt.
Safety Risk:
With the original Canadian UAS belt 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. 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 of the infant car seat or other occupants of the vehicle.
Consumer Action and Recourse:
Consumers who have completed and returned their registration card, or
registered their infant car seat on-line at
www.combi.ca, will receive by mail a free replacement Canadian UAS belt kit.
The kit will include a replacement Canadian UAS belt (shown in the picture
below), 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.
Transport Canada: |
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1-800-333-0371 |
Release Date: |
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July 12, 2007 |
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