Important notices
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Important Notices
Recall and advisory information for car seats sold here in New Zealand. Contains details of what you need to do if your seat is recalled, or affected in anyway.
Raven 3 in 1 car seat weight limit correction
WOF checks and car seats
Cosco Scenera snagging
Evenflo Discovery advisory notice
Safe2Go Technicians misleading info
Milano capsule standards issue
Evenflo Portabout & Apollo errors
Using Britax car seats until 20kgs
•••••
June 2008
Cosco Scenera harness snagging (Resolved - affects pre 2008 models)
Cosoco Scenera car seats damaged by sharp spikes (click)
It has come to our attention that the Cosco Scenera car seats, sold in NZ have small spikes on the under side of the car seat frame that may snag the harness and cause tears and pulls when used in rear facing mode. Normal Cosco Scenera harness
Cosco Scenera harness damaged by spikes
A non-puncture harness is available for replacement - if you require one, please email us with photos of the damage, as well as your name and address for a replacement to be sent to. Contact us and we will inform IGC Dorel on your behalf.
March 2008
Evenflo Discovery Advisory Notice (Resolved - affects pre March 2008 models)
Link: Evenflo.com
An advisory notice has been placed against these seats due to the possibility that the seat may come detached from its base in the event of a side impact accident.
Evenfo Discovery Capsule and base detachment advisory notice (click)
June 2008 update:
Some parents are confusing the fix kit for these bases with the latch strap already attached to the base. The fix strap is thin black strap with white stripe that has a hook at each end an adjuster at one end only and is not attached to the base of the seat. The latch strap comes attached to the base and should not be removed or used to attach the seat to be base.
This statement has come to our attention,
"People who bought this model [390/391 Discovery] were told to take it back to The Baby Factory and get a new strap for the base. This has been done. However, since then it has been re-approved for use without the additional strap. You can phone Transport Information, or Plunket to confirm that this car seat model [391 Discovery] is A-OK".
The statement above is incorrect - The seat did not have to be taken back, the straps are available at the Baby Factory and can be collected free of charge. Affected seats have been cleared for use without the clip, unless the base is not used, the seat can be used on its own without the base. LTSA do not have any role in this advisory nor do Plunket, it was issued by the manufacturer of the car seats in USA. Newer discovery models are not affected (March 2008 onwards) as the red release clips have been modified.
All Evenflo capsules with model numbers with 390XXXX XX and 391XXXX XX that are being used with a base ARE part of this advisory and should be used with the fix kit at all times.
Image showing straps fitted to base (latch & fix strap). 
Evenflo discovery capsule off base after a simulated accident. All seats with model numbers beginning with: 390, 391, 534, 552 are involved in this notice. The model number can be found under the seat on a white sticker (along with the manufacture date), shown below.
This seat was not involved in the recall and is for indicative purposes only. Evenflo have given the following advice:
"Consumers should continue to use their Discovery infant car seat and there is no need to return it to retailers. It is recommended that you discontinue using the base until your clip has arrived."
Fix kit shown above - 1) strap, 2) fitted to base, 3) hooked to car seat on base, 4) car seat on base, strap tightened to prevent it from coming off the base. Click above image for further details.
If you have an Evenflo Discovery that has the above model number and you need a fix kit, please contact us, please give us:
Your
car seat/s model number, manufacture date, your name and address to arrange delivery*.
If you have your receipt, and live near a Baby Factory store you can request a kit from them.
*Postage costs apply.
February 2008
Safe2Go Technicians and incorrect information.
If you have taken your seat to a Safe2Go technician who has told you incorrect information, or mislead you in some way, please let the Safe2Go coordinator know. If you provide them with who you dealt with, and what information was given, they will be able to access what information was given by the trainer, and why the technician is giving out incorrect information.
If you are not happy with the answer given, or the install carried out by the technician please see another technician, or your local Plunket Car Seat rental character.
Berenice Langson
Ph. 09 827 6182
berenice.langson@childsafety.co.nz
November 2007
MILANO CAPSULE (Resolved - affects pre 2007 models)
Seat model F005 Milano capsule F005 sold at Baby City and missing standards label, this affects seats sold with a stoller (travel system). The weight limit label is also incorrect.
Milano capsules missing UK ECE standards stikcer (click)
Milano infant capsules sold as part of a travel system (with stroller) at Baby City may not have the red "UK ECE E# 44.03" sticker attached.
Sold at Baby City stores throughout New Zealand
Legally car seats cannot be sold in New Zealand without the standards sticker attached.
The weight label on these seats do not match the standards sticker weight limit of 13kgs, the seat itself states 10kgs, we are waiting for an update on this issue.
We are also keeping an eye on Trade Me auctions to alert sellers if their seat does not have the standards sticker attached. Baby City have not released any recall or repair kits for these seats to date, but will post out replacement stickers if you provide us with your details.
Contact us for details on how you can get the sticker for you capsule. Please provide details from you seat. The model number, cover colours and manufacture date to admin@childrestraints.co.nz
24 October 2007
EVENFLO PORTABOUT & APOLLO (Resolved - affects pre 2008 models)
NZCR Advises caution if purchasing either of these seats, especially secondhand models. The Apollo was made prior to 2002 and expires after 6 years (2008) they were not made after this time. The Portabout was made up to 2005 and will expire by 2011, there were none made after this time.
Manufacture date and expiry date modification on Evenflo Portabout and Apollo car seats (click)
Update: Fair Go features news article on these two car seats 7.30 pm TV 1 24/10/2007.
It appears that Warwick Edwards who imports these seats into New Zealand will not confirm, nor deny that the seats are being tampered with. Evenflo have stated that they do not re-stamp the seats. The New Zealand imported seats are coming out with stickers attached over top of dates that have been scratched out (some removed entirely) on the plastic as shown in the images below.
Below is the email reply received from Evenflo USA customer services 12 September 2007.
Q:
Please confirm the dates in which the Evenflo Apollo car seat was made between.
A:
Approximately August of 2001 through July of 2002.
Q:
What is the life span on these seats?
A: We recommend that seats be replaced after 6 years.Does the life span being from date of purchase or date of manufacture?
There is no deterioration that we are aware of with the seats; the purpose of the expiry date was to reduce the use of second-hand seats with missing or broken parts and to ensure that the seats that are being used meet the latest safety standards. We would recommend once it’s been used for 6 years that be discarded.
Q:
Does the life span limits set in the US apply to international countries also?
A:
Yes. The same general rules apply as far as life span.
Q:
What can be done if the importer in New Zealand is informing parents of expiration dates, changing engraved dates and applying stickers that differ from the details applied to the car seat?
A:
While it’s difficult to control what happens with our product once it leaves our facility, we’re diligently looking into it and are working to address these issues with the responsible party. If you happen to have any other information such as exactly where the seats are coming from (distributor, names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) it would help us a great deal. We have not authorized anyone to modify our seats in any way.
Q:
Is there a letter that you give out stating the difference when the dates are printed incorrectly? Do you have a copy?
Can I see it?
A:
No, I am sorry; we have no standard letter that deals with this sort of situation.
The above details do greatly contradict the information provided by Warwick Edwards.
03 September 2007 - Confusion caused over manufacture and expiry dates on EVENFLO APOLLO child restraints. These seats have been reported to have been tampered with. The stamps on the rear of the seat may have been scratched out, and/or a sticker placed over the original details. Evenflo USA recommend a life span of 6 years from the date of manufacture and they have not stated if this only applies to the US or world wide.
Safe2Go technicians are taught that the expiry date is also from the date of manufacture (DOM). If you have one of these seats, and you're concerned about the dates please contact:
Warwick Edwards
warwick@xtra.co.nz
Po Box 35445
Browns Bay
North Shore
Auckland
Iit appears that Warwick was tampering with seat dates, an alternative contact person is Wayne Buckley of Tas Baby email: Wayne@tasbaby.co.nz
I am still working on this case with Warwick and Wayne and have been since April 13 2007, when first enquiring about over stamped dates on an Evenflo Portabout. This case is being taken seriously.
Update - We have visited Warwick's storage warehouse in Dairy Flat (North of Albany) and have not noticed any seats with tampered dates since the above was noted - our only concern now is the seats that have been sticked with dates that do not match those stamped on the seat (these state the seat was "sold in 2006, and has an expiry date of 2012") - We recommend buying seats that have the offical manufactuers date as shown (in the large image below). While the expiry date reflects a 6 year life span, the sold date is not applicable as life span begins when the seat was made, not sold. Also the original expiry date may be as early as 2008, not 2012, meaning that the seats were already 4 years old when sold.
The life span of Evenflo car seats is 6 years, from the date of manufacture. If you have any doubt about the date of the seat you are looking to buy, we recommend looking at another brand.
Images
May 2007
Safe-n-Sound Bulletin
Following the death of Kyle David Miller in the USA in May 2005, Britax Australia released a bulletin about the testing and use of their child restraints.
Convertible car seats, and combined booster seats with integral harness are rated for children either NB to 18kgs, or 8 to 18kgs respectively. Britax AU however, test these seats with crash test dummies that weigh 20kgs, using the integral harness.
Please note: Britax car seats sold in NZ and AU are labelled "Safe-n-Sound" and are rated for use until 18kgs (convertible seats). The bulletin is a guideline and is not stated by the manufacturer nor is it printed on the car seat, or the instruction booklet. This therefore becomes a parental decision if you do decide to use the seat longer.
The following bulletin outlines the concerns regarding Kyle's injuries, the USA car seats and what you can do with your Safe-n-Sound branded Britax car seat for children you wish to keep harnessed.
You may like to consider the NEW Maxi Rider AHR coming to NZ in mid July, this allows use of the protecta harness with children 14-26kgs. It has an additional set of harness slots, which keeps the Protecta harness at or above your child's shoulders. An additional 7cm of height is expected.
Britax Product Information Bulletin - 07 December 2006*
* PDF File.