Graco Announces Voluntary Recall of Stand-Alone SnugRide Infant Car Seats Equipped With Base

EXTON, Pa., March 12 -- Graco Children's Products today announced a voluntary recall of 650,000 stand-alone SnugRide infant car seats equipped with a base manufactured in the USA between March 1, 2002 and March 6, 2003. SnugRide infant car seats sold as part of a travel system (stroller/infant carrier/car-seat base combination), or stand-alone units made in China, are not affected by this recall.

The models affected include: 8402, 8412, 8442, 8443, 8443L, 8442L, 8444, 8444L, 8446, 8446L, 8447, 8447L, 8448, 8448L, 8457, 8458, 8459, 8601, 8463, 8464, 8470, 8471, 8478, C844342 and 841203.

Graco has determined that a small number of SnugRide infant car seats may have missing hardware used to attach the carrier to the base. If the hardware is missing, the carrier may not be securely attached to the base. In the event of a sudden stop or accident, the carrier may detach from the base, possibly resulting in serious injury or death. To date, no injuries have been reported or linked to this issue.

Consumers with Graco SnugRide infant car seats manufactured in the USA between March 1, 2002 and March 6, 2003 should visit the Graco website at www.gracobaby.com to determine if their unit is affected, or contact Graco at 1-866-473-0163.

The infant carrier may be used in the car without the base. For proper instructions on installing the carrier in the car without the base, please consult the instruction manual for the unit, which was included in the original packaging. Installation instructions are also available online at www.gracobaby.com.

When calling the company, consumers should have the model number and date of manufacture of the car seat readily available. This information is located on a label, which is adhered to the car seat or base.

Consumers with questions about this recall campaign can also call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 or visit NHTSA's web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.