Health & Baby

Graco Duo Tandem, MetroLite Strollers Recalled

July 8, 2005 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Graco Children's Products have announced a voluntary recall of certain Graco strollers.

The products are the Graco Duo Tandem Stroller and the Graco MetroLite Stroller, states a CPSC news release.

Consumers should stop using the recalled products immediately until a repair has been made, says the CPSC.

The strollers were made between 1994 and 2002. There are about a million Duo Tandem strollers and about 143,000 MetroLite strollers, according to the CPSC.

The Problem

"These strollers can fail to latch properly and unexpectedly collapse while in use," says the CPSC.

"This can result in broken bones, cuts, bumps, bruises, and other injuries to young children riding in the stroller and consumers pushing the stroller."

For the Duo Tandem strollers, Graco has received reports of 306 collapses causing 230 reported injuries, including a broken arm and a cut to a child requiring 46 stitches.

For the MetroLite strollers, Graco has received reports of 223 stroller collapses causing 34 reported injuries including 18 bumps and bruises to the head or body.

Other injuries associated with both strollers include cuts, scrapes, scratches, pinched fingers, and muscle pulls.

Recalled Duo Tandems

The recalled Duo Tandem strollers, manufactured between 1994 and 1999, have two seats: one seat in front and one seat in back.

The strollers have a blue, white, or green plastic and steel frame. They have four wheels in the front and two wheels in the rear. The cloth seats and tops have various colors and patterns.

There is a label with the model and serial number on the stroller's frame. Only strollers with serial numbers and model numbers listed below are included in this recall.

Recalled MetroLite Strollers

The recalled MetroLite strollers, manufactured in 2000 and 2001, have a blue, gray, or black plastic and steel frame. The cloth seat and top have various colors and patterns.

The strollers have four wheels in the front and two wheels in the rear.

These strollers were sold as a stand-alone stroller and also as part of a travel system that included an infant car seat/carrier and a base. The car seat/carrier is not affected.

There is a label on the cross bar under the foot rest containing the model and serial number. Only strollers with serial numbers between 10012000 and 12312001 in the first eight digits and the following model numbers are included in this recall.

Strollers' Sources

The Duo tandem strollers were sold at discount, department, and juvenile product stores nationwide from January 1994 through December 2000 for between $80 and $150.

The MetroLite strollers were sold at discount, department, and juvenile product stores nationwide from November 2000 through December 2002 for between $100 and $200.

The strollers were made in China.

Remedy

Consumers should stop using these strollers immediately and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.

The kit includes a custom-designed latch that consumers should attach to the stroller's frame to ensure it is properly latched.

The repair kit will be available in approximately one to two weeks, says the CPSC.

Call Graco with questions at (800) 981-4412 anytime or log on to the firm's web site www.gracobaby.com, says the CPSC.

Or check the CPSC web site for pictures of the recalled strollers.