Carry handle screws fall out

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Eddie Bauer vehicles. Closed 27 November 2006.

Investigation
PE06031
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
17 August 2006
Closed
27 November 2006

What NHTSA investigated

The comfort infant car seat is a rear facing car seat designed for infant children.it is equipped with a carry handle and may be used outside of a vehicle as an infant carrier. This investigation was opened based on consumer complaints to odi. The complainants reported that the screws used to attach the hand grip trim to the carry handle were loosening and falling into the infant carrier.the dorel juvenile group (dorel) filed a defect report with the agency on november 17, 2006 and will conduct a safety recall on 67,276 subject alpha elite and eddie bauer model comfort rear facing infant car seats.these seats were produced from the start of production (july 26, 2005) through february 28, 2006.SEATS produced after february 28, 2006 utilized a new screw of different size and type to attach the hand grip trim and are not included in the recall.dorel will provide free of charge a repair kit that includes a screw driver and six new screws. Please see safety recall number 06C-005 for more details.

The recall that followed

  1. Eddie Bauer — Child Seat: Handle (infant)06C00500017 November 200667,276 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
Alpha Elite22-331Model year not recorded
Alpha Elite22-332Model year not recorded
Eddie Bauer22-6302005–2006
Eddie Bauer22-6312005–2006

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.