Investigations
CHILD SEAT HANDLE SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09041 - closed, opened 2009-08-31.
NHTSA investigation PE09041 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-08-31 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2010-01-07 - 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 PE09041 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: "BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 18, 2009, DJG NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 09C010) TO REPAIR THE HANDLES ON CERTAIN MODELS OF SAFETY 1ST, COSCO, EDDIE BAUER, AND DISNEY REAR-FACI..." 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
BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 18, 2009, DJG NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 09C010) TO REPAIR THE HANDLES ON CERTAIN MODELS OF SAFETY 1ST, COSCO, EDDIE BAUER, AND DISNEY REAR-FACING INFANT RESTRAINTS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 6, 2008 THROUGH APRIL 6, 2009. DJG WILL PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH A FREE HANDLE REPAIR KIT. THE RESTRAINTS WERE SOLD AS PART OF A TRAVEL SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES A STROLLER THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DJG AT 1-866-762-3316. CERTAIN CHILD SEATS DURING THE AFFECTED TIME FRAME WERE MANUFACTURED USING OUT OF SPECIFICATION SCREWS TO CONNECT THE HANDLE TO THE SHELL. AS A RESULT, THE SCREWS CAN LOOSEN AND BACK OUT, AND IF THE HANDLE DETACHES FROM THE SHELL, THE RESTRAINT CAN FALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE CHILD. THE AGENCY OPENED ITS INVESTIGATION BASED ON EIGHT COMPLAINTS IN WHICH HANDLE SCREWS WERE LOOSE OR THE HANDLE SEPARATED FROM THE SHELL. THE AGENCY ALSO RECEIVED EARLY WARNING (EWR) REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE. BASED ON THE ABOVE SAFETY RECALL, 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.