The strollers were sold at Babies 'R' Us, Target, and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. The recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers including Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is advising owners of the strollers to stop using them and to contact Maclaren to receive a free repair kit—a zippered fabric cover that prevents a child from inserting his or her finger into the hinges. Maclaren can be contacted at 877-688-2326 or by visiting the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall.
Although all Maclaren strollers are certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Associations to meet ASTM-International’s voluntary safety standard for strollers, we found a loophole in the standard. The standard addresses scissoring, shearing and pinching, but it only applies to situations where the stroller is in the manufacturer’s recommended use position—meaning unfolded with the hinges locked in place—to prevent injury to the occupant. Consumers Union, which sits on ASTM’s stroller committee, will work to close that loophole in the future.
Strollers are first on the list of nursery products that cause injury to children under age five. A report issued last week by the CPSC reported 12,400 hospital treated injuries related to strollers and carriages in 2008.
Our Take: When using any stroller, make sure to keep your child well away while you are unfolding or folding it. Double check to make sure all locks are fully engaged and the harness system buckled before taking your child out for a stroll.—Don Mays
Sounds like we were lucky - my toddler got his finger smashed in, but not amputated by, a hinge on his Maclaren stroller on Memorial Day! (We didn't make the parade...) A morning in the emergency room, no lasting harm as far as we can tell, why didn't it occur to me that this was a major design flaw and not "user error"? Maybe I can stop blaming myself now.
We own a Volo and love it. Will be adding a 2-seater soon.
I wholeheartedly believe the accidents are 99.9% the parents' fault, and not the manufacturer. This is a shame, since these people are probably suing Maclaren for tens of millions.
I hope that common sense had a painless death...
Never mind that 9,999,988 of these strollers worked fine.
Why did it take them too long to recall the strollers? Caregivers and parents must also take part in ensuring that no finger amputation on babies. Maclaren should not blamed for all this mess.
I think the use of the word "loophole" is pejorative. I have no affiliation with anyone in the industry, but I believe a better term would be "oversight".
If a manufacturer makes a product which they honestly believe to be safe for its intended purpose, and it meets all applicable safety standards, do we refer to a faulty standard as a "loophole"?
The use of "loophole" (2 : a means of escape; especially : an ambiguity or omission in the text through which the intent of a statute, contract, or obligation may be evaded) implies the manufacturer knowingly avoided making a safe product.
I expect better from Consumer Reports.
Had my Volo stroller for two years, and I sing it's praises for being one of the best strollers I own. Never had any trouble with it.
Maybe it's just me... whenever I do fold strollers or whatever contraption, I do make sure my kids are standing away, not touching, move along, go play over there...
Why would anyone let a child near or their fingers be in the area hinges where the stroller folds? Keep your child away while doing certain things. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. It's more like parent/caretakers not being as careful or aware. So you'll blame the manufacturer for their own neglience and lack of common sense?
Well, I just heard about the recall today from my co-worker. I looked it up and filled in the form to get the cover mailed to me. The process was easy and fast. Thank you Maclaren for providing a fast and easy solution in addition to making the best strollers. We own 4 differnt types of stollers and the Quest is our choise 90% of the time. Parents need to be careful and keep their kids away from moving metal!
Received a '48 Hour Private Friends and Family Sale' email from Albee Baby yesterday (Dec 9) at 2:45pm, with several Maclaren strollers on sale. Apparently they had not heard about the recall.
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