Canadian Advisory: Evenflo Symphony, Momentum, SureRide/Titan 65, and Snugli All-in-One – Replacement of the Central Front Adjuster Retaining Screw

Evenflo SureRide

Summary

Some caregivers have reported an issue with the following models of Evenflo and Snugli car seats:

• Evenflo Symphony
• Snugli All-in-One
• Evenflo Momentum
• Evenflo SureRide
• Evenflo Titan 65

The Issue

These seats have a Central Front Adjuster (CFA) retaining screw loosening and/or detaching over time.

Consumers who have a car seat included in the list above with a loose or detached CFA retaining screw can contact Evenflo at 1-800-265-0749 to receive a free remedy kit.

At this time, this issue is an Advisory in Canada only.  It is not a recall in Canada or the United States.  CSFTL recommends contacting Evenflo’s customer service (American phone number: 1-800-233-5921) should any of the seats on the list above encounter this issue.

Full Text of the Advisory

Read full text
Motor Vehicle Safety
Information: 1-800-333-0371

TP 14563 – Consumer Information Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2016-C01 E
April 21, 2016

Manufacturer:

Evenflo Company, Inc.
1801 Commerce Drive
Piqua, OH 45356 USA
www.evenflo.com

Importer and distributor:

Evenflo Company, Inc.
2 Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga, ON L4Z 1H8

Consumer contact:

1-800-265-0749

Models, Model Numbers and Dates of Manufacture Affected:

See table below

Number of Units:
105,330

Geographical Distribution:
Across Canada

Issue:

Transport Canada received several complaint reports regarding the Central Front Adjuster (CFA) retaining screw loosening and/or detaching over time on certain Evenflo Symphony, Snugli All-in-One, Momentum, SureRide and Titan 65 car seats. There have been no incidents or injuries reported in Canada associated with this issue.

The CFA is located at the front of the seat and permits adjustment of the car seat’s harness length and tightness around the child occupant. The CFA retaining screw mounts the CFA to the car seat shell. The CFA retaining screw is located on the bottom of the CFA underneath the harness adjuster strap, as shown in the photo below.

Figure 1. Location of the Central Front Adjuster (CFA)
The complaint reports were shared with Evenflo, and a defect investigation at the Issue Assessment (IA) level was opened to examine the potential safety risk associated with this loosening and/or detaching of the CFA retaining screw over time.

Evenflo indicated and our investigation confirmed that:

• If the CFA retaining screw was loose or missing, the condition would be easily noticeable by the parent or caregiver when placing a child in the car seat and pulling on the harness adjuster strap to tighten the harness; and
• In the unlikely event that the CFA retaining screw loosened and/or detached while a child was already properly secured in the car seat, the harness would remain tight around the child and there would be no influence on the retention of the child in a crash.

While the loosening and detaching of the CFA retaining screw may cause initial concern to parents and caregivers, there is no safety risk associated with this condition. Accordingly, the child car seats currently in the field affected by this issue continue to provide safe restraint for children.

Our investigation also revealed that, in 2015, Evenflo implemented use of a new serrated CFA retaining screw design on all models included in this notice after noticing an increase in consumer inquiries about the CFA retaining screw loosening and detaching. With this change, Evenflo is confident that the potential loosening and detaching of the CFA retaining screw has been addressed.


Figure 2. Original Screw with Philipps Head and High-Low Threads


Figure 3. Replacement Screw with Torx Head and Serrated Threads

Company Action and Consumer Recourse:

All seats impacted by this notice continue to meet the requirements of CMVSS 213 and can be used safely. However, because several of the models impacted are designed for extended use, Evenflo and Transport Canada appreciate that consumers experiencing a loose or detached CFA retaining screw would like to have the CFA properly attached to the shell.

Accordingly, Evenflo will provide registered owners of affected models with a copy of this notice by mail. Any owner of an Evenflo car seat who has not registered is encouraged to register online through Evenflo’s Product Registration Web page or, alternately, by contacting Evenflo by phone at 1-800-265-0749.

Consumers who have a car seat included in the list below and the CFA retaining screw is loose or detached can contact Evenflo at 1-800-265-0749 to receive a free remedy kit. The affected car seats should not be returned to the retailer.