Consumer Reports testing prompts stroller recalls

 The Consumer Product Safety Commission just announced the recalls of two jogging strollers for hazards that Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, brought to their attention earlier this year. Our testing uncovered safety hazards with these strollers and we rated them a "Don't Buy: Safety Risk".  In total, there are 12,800 strollers being recalled for risk of strangulation. 

About 12,000 Valco Baby Tri Mode Single and Twin Jogging Strollers are being recalled because the opening between the grab bar and seat bottom of the stroller can allow an infant's body to pass through and become entrapped at the neck by the grab bar, posing a strangulation hazard to a young child  who is not harnessed. "Valco Baby" is printed on the head rest and the padding on the footboard. The grab bar is optional and can be removed from the stroller. The stroller's model numbers are located on a white sticker on the left hand side of brake bar. The Valco Baby strollers were sold at juvenile product stores and websites including Amazon.com between November 2007 and March 2010 for between $480 to $700. Consumers should immediately remove the grab bar from the stroller and contact Valco Baby at (800) 610-7850, www.valcobaby.com or email at recall@valcobaby.com to receive a free replacement grab bar.

Some 800 Tike Tech Single City X3 and X3 Sport Jogging Strollers are also being recalled  for the same grab-bar hazard as the Valco Baby strollers. "Tike Tech" is printed on the footrest and on the back of the stroller on the left and right sides. The ID codes are located on the interior left side frame. The Tike Tech strollers were sold at juvenile product stores nationwide and websites including www.amazon.com from October 2009 through February 2010 for about $300. Consumers should immediately remove the grab bar from the stroller and contact Tike Tech Tech at (800) 296-4602, at www.tiketech.com or email the firm at recall@tiketech.com to receive a free replacement grab bar. 

To learn more about the importance of stroller safety, download (PDF) CPSC's safety alert. See our stroller buying advice and Ratings (for subscribers).