Investigations
Carry Handle Unlatching
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE98065 - closed, opened 1998-12-18.
NHTSA investigation PE98065 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1998-12-18 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1999-06-30 - 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 PE98065 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 Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on December18, 1998 based on 37 reports received of carry handle unlatching in Cosco Arriva and Turn-About child safety seats. The Arriva and Turn-About are r..." 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 Office of Defects Investigation opened this investigation on December18, 1998 based on 37 reports received of carry handle unlatching in Cosco Arriva and Turn-About child safety seats. The Arriva and Turn-About are rear facing infant car seats, equipped with a handle, that may also be used outside of a vehicle as an infant carrier. The seat is designed for children that weigh 22 pounds or less, and who are 26 inches or less in height. Since opening the investigation ODI received 13 additional reports, the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided ODI with nine relevant reports, and Cosco provided information pertaining to 92 reports. Of the 151 reports relevant to sudden handle unlatching 46 indicate the infant occupant was ejected from the seat and 25 of those reported injuries. Four injuries were reported to children that were not ejected. Injuries were alleged to occur to children who were both restrained and unrestrained. Cosco will provide a free repair kit that includes left and right handle locks that consumers can easily install
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.