Investigations
SEAT WEBBING WEAVE SEPARATION, WEAR
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08013 - closed, opened 2008-02-27.
NHTSA investigation PE08013 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-02-27 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-06-27 - 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 PE08013 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: "OWNERS REPORT THAT THE 5-POINT OCCUPANT WEBBING ON THE SUBJECT COSCO SCENERA CHILD SEAT MAY SHOW WEAVE SEPARATION, ABRASION OR SCORING IF THE WEBBING IS PULLED ACROSS CERTAIN SHARP PLASTIC CORNERS (PROTRUSIONS) ON THE UN..." 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
OWNERS REPORT THAT THE 5-POINT OCCUPANT WEBBING ON THE SUBJECT COSCO SCENERA CHILD SEAT MAY SHOW WEAVE SEPARATION, ABRASION OR SCORING IF THE WEBBING IS PULLED ACROSS CERTAIN SHARP PLASTIC CORNERS (PROTRUSIONS) ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SEAT SHELL. (MODELS 22120, 22121, 22123, 22127, 22128, 22160, 22162, AND 93120). DOREL JUVENILE GROUP (DJG) IS NOW SUPPLYING REPLACEMENT WEBBING THAT HAS A MORE ROBUST COBBLE WEAVE PATTERN, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND A STICKER ILLUSTRATING THE PROPER ROUTING OF THE WEBBING TO OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS AND REPORTING IT TO DJG (# 800-544-1108). SINCE 2006, ODI HAS RECEIVED 9 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED WEBBING DAMAGE INVOLVING THE SUBJECT CHILD SEATS. THE HARNESS WEBBING CAN SCORE OR SHOW WEAVE SEPARATION IF IT RUBS ACROSS ONE OR BOTH OF THE PROTRUSIONS. CONSUMERS REPORT ABRASION, SEPARATION OF THE WEAVE, OR PUNCTURE. THE COMPLAINT INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE SEATS USED IN BOTH THE REAR AND FORWARD FACING MODES. THERE HAS BEEN NO REPORTED PERFORMANCE CONSEQUENCE: NO WEBBING FAILURE INCIDENTS, INJURIES OR DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. THE PROTRUSIONS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT SHELL HELP GUIDE THE WEBBING AND ARE PART OF THE HOUSING FOR FOLDING THE RECLINE STAND UNDER THE SEAT WHEN THE RECLINE STAND IS NOT BEING USED. DJG USED FOUR DIFFERENT MOLDS DURING SEAT PRODUCTION. THE PROTRUSIONS ON TWO OF THE MOLDS ARE SHARPER THAN THOSE ON THE OTHER TWO MOLDS. AFTER ODI CONTACTED THE COMPANY, DJG MODIFIED ALL FOUR OF ITS MOLDS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE PROTRUSIONS. THIS CHANGE WAS MADE EFFECTIVE MARCH 24. DJG ALSO HAS SWITCHED TO A NEW COBBLE WEAVE WEBBING MATERIAL THAT IS MORE RESISTANT TO DAMAGE FROM THE PROTRUSIONS ON EXISTING SEATS. DJG EVALUATED THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF WEBBING ABRASION AND WEAVE SEPARATION BY RUBBING UNUSED WEBBING AGAINST THE PROTRUSIONS (TO SIMULATE WEBBING SAMPLES FROM REAL-WORLD USE) AND MEASURED WEBBING STRENGTH AND SEAT PERFORMANCE IN SIMULATED CRASH TESTS. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED LITTLE WEBBING PERFORMANCE DEGRADATI
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.