Sliced Fingers Spur Graco Stroller Recall

(AP)  About 1.5 million Graco strollers sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers are being recalled after some children's fingertips were amputated by hinges on the products.

The recall by Graco Children's Products Inc. includes certain model numbers of its Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems. The Exton, Pa., company received seven reports of children placing their fingers in a stroller's canopy hinge as the canopy was being opened or closed. Five children had their fingertips severed and two children received cuts on their fingertips.

The strollers were made in China by Graco and sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Kmart, Fred Meyer, Meijer, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 to December 2009.

In announcing the recall Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the strollers pose an amputation and laceration hazard to children when opening or closing the canopy. The government advised consumers to stop using the strollers and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.

The recall involves strollers made between October 2004 and February 2008. The model numbers and manufacture dates are on the lower inside portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels.

This is the second major recall in recent months of strollers that led to fingertip amputations and injuries. Last November, about a million Maclaren strollers were recalled after there were 12 reports of children's fingertips being amputated by a hinge mechanism.

The safety commission is now examining all strollers with the designs that have caused the fingertip amputations, said spokesman Scott Wolfson.

"CPSC is taking a larger look at the entire product line to determine what steps need to be taken to keep children safe in and around strollers," he said.

For more information about the recalled strollers, consumers can call 800-345-4109 or visit http://www.cpsc.gov.

[rwsmith29456]

WE are going to have stop accepting these cheap, inferior products. Years before the internet I was looking for an American made bench vise. I couldn't find one anywhere in (a decent sized) town so I had to settle for a cheap-crap vise. On the internet I can now see that a few American companies still make these items. I'm going to do more shopping on the net because the only other choices I have are big-box stores that are guaranteed to only sell junk.

[rwsmith29456]

How long have strollers and cribs been made? Don't you think they would have learned how to make them by now?

[charlynn77]

I think government need to freakin' wake up and smell the coffee. We need to keep companies in America. I would much rather use American made product instead of from China, Japan, etc. No wonder why we have so much problems with products that are being made from other counties. We need to put our foot down and protect our country, family and children too!!!

[tbird6740]

"The strollers were made in China by Graco". Made in CHINA! Enough said.

[Union76]

Even I can see that those tiny holes underneath the seat would make a nice place for baby fingers. Communist China owns most of our muli-TRILLION dollar debt, they have most of our manufacturing base if not all, and they continue to poison us with their tainted goods. But what do you expect from a Marxist communist country with such a horrible human rights record. Do you think they care about American baby fingers? and has a "propaganda chief" as a cabinet position. My prayers go out to TIBET!

[scottyusa]

Yeah pretty dumb isn't it. Militarily, we don't trust china and consider them an adversary. Then we borrow trillions from them and let them manufacture all of our necessities. If we started manufacturing our own stuff and quit buying from China, what would stop them from calling in the debt? Our leaders don't seem to have their heads on too straight now do they?

[pete_in_az]

Awesome. I got two years of use out of this and now I get my money back. I was about to donate it tommorow.

[nowhiningallowed]

Is the defect because of a malfunctioning mechanism or improper assemblage by the owners? If the latter, then this problem is the fault of the owner. It's not the manufacturer's responsibility to make sure an owner has command of the language.

[bill0bob]

"Is the defect because of a malfunctioning mechanism or improper assemblage by the owners? If the latter, then this problem is the fault of the owner." -nwhiningallowed

You are really going out of your way to try to blame this problem on the victims. Why?

This is clearly a design defect.

[metomjr]

Why is your child in the stroller while you are opening/closing it?

Stop babying America. If my kid got injured by a product, I would never even begin to think it was the product's fault. It's my fault.

Stop trying to always blame someone else for your problems. Take accountability.

[bill0bob]

"Why is your child in the stroller while you are opening/closing it" -- metomjr

The top canopy of the stroller is designed to be opened and closed with the kid in it! You have to open the canopy to put your kid in it, and then close the canopy AFTER the kid is in it.

Duh, moron!

"If my kid got injured by a product, I would never even begin to think it was the product's fault. It's my fault." -- metomjr

In your case, I'm sure that's correct!

[thesevenveils]

What a shame sor this to happen to a brand such as Graco. One would think that especially a respected producer of infant seats and strollers would perform extensive studies and testing to keep their products child safe. Unfortunately, they go the way of Ford (i.e. SUV's rolling over, bad OEM tires) and deem a design fault an acceptable economic risk.

[Berkeley-SkirtLifter]

Why would you use a "stroller" anyway? Why would you push your baby away from you? Pushing your baby away from you will alienate your baby.

I actually heard this argument and they weren't kidding!

[I_am_me1953]

Well, actually they are right. Pushing the baby awy will make him/her feel alienated.

That is why I used the "little red wagon" just like my parents did with me.

Not to worry, I survived all of those falls out of it, striking my head on the concrete and so did my kids.


Uh, Oh, gotta get out of the double wide and back into the bomb shelter right away, the aliens are back trying to abduct me for more experiments again.

[scottyusa]

Give me a break. Put a mirror on the front of the stroller and to the baby, it will look like you are coming towards him/her.

I_am_me1953; I know about the alien thing. They got me 3 times now. I have to stop falling for that naked lady trick...