Investigations
FINGER ENTRAPMENT
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07002 - closed, opened 2007-01-22.
NHTSA investigation PE07002 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-01-22 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-05-22 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE07002 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT CHILDREN ARE GETTING THUMBS OR FINGERS STUCK IN A SMALL SQUARE HOLE THAT IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHILD SEAT. DOREL JUVENILE GROUP (DJG) HAS ANNOUNCED A..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
THE AGENCY OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT CHILDREN ARE GETTING THUMBS OR FINGERS STUCK IN A SMALL SQUARE HOLE THAT IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHILD SEAT. DOREL JUVENILE GROUP (DJG) HAS ANNOUNCED A SAFETY NOTICE CAMPAIGN (NHTSA # 07C004) AND IT WILL OFFER A NO COST REMEDY THAT PROVIDES A PERMANENT COVER FOR THE HOLE. ODI IS AWARE OF 14 REPORTS OF CHILD FINGERS/THUMBS BEING STUCK IN THE HOLE. TEN REPORTS INDICATE MINOR INJURIES RANGING FROM SCRAPES AND CUTS TO BRUISING. TWO OF THE TEN REPORTS STATED THAT A PARENT HAD TO CALL FOR HELP TO HAVE THE SEAT CUT TO EXTRICATE THE FINGER. THE SEATS AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION ARE THE COSCO ALPHA OMEGA 22-150, -151 AND THE EDDIE BAUER 22-770BLT SEAT MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2005. SAME MODEL SEATS MANUFACTURED BEFORE AND AFTER THOSE DATES ARE NOT AFFECTED. AS PART OF ITS SAFETY NOTICE CAMPAIGN, DJG WILL MAIL A REPAIR KIT TO REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED MODEL CHILD SEATS. OWNERS NOT REGISTERED SHOULD CONTACT DJG AT 1-877-639-0659 TO RECEIVE THE REPAIR KIT. THE REPAIR KIT WILL CONTAIN COVERING MATERIAL WITH A DURABLE ADHESIVE THAT PARENTS WILL NEED TO PLACE OVER THE HOLE TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER POSSIBILITY OF THEIR CHILDREN GETTING THEIR FINGERS STUCK. BASED ON THE ACTION TAKEN BY DJG, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.