Recall widened: Maxi-Cosi infant car seats

Consumer Reports News: February 05, 2010 04:33 PM

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In the summer of 2009, Dorel Juvenile Group recalled more than 28,000 infant car seats because the shell could become detached from the base. Recalled then were certain models of Dorel's Maxi-Cosi Mico infant seats. Today, that recall was broadened to include even more Maxi-Cosi seats—now including those manufactured for four months after the previously recalled seats.

The affected products include Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint systems with the model numbers 22-371 HFL, JUC, LMD, PNG, and ORE, and 22-372 TTH. It also includes the base of the Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint system with the model number 22-515 BLK. The items were produced from February 18, 2008 through June 28, 2008. (See the image above—or Dorel's Maxi-Cosi "safety notice"—to learn where to find the manufacturing sticker on this seat.)

According to the recall notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site, interference between the restraint system's mounting bracket and the base, caused by warping of the base or inadequate mating between the shell and the base mounting bracket, can result in difficulty attaching or detaching the shell from the base. If the shell is improperly mounted to the base, the child could be injured in the event of a crash. See the recall notice on the product's Web site, as well.

Dorel will notify all registered owners of the problem and send a free remedy kit with instructions. For more information, non-registered and registered owners may also contact Dorel at 1-877-657-9546, or NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

See our infant car seat buying advice and Ratings (available to subscribers), and how to get the right installation angle, for related information.