Evenflo Maestro Child Seats Recalled After Failing Consumer Reports Test

Evenflo is recalling more than 18,000 Maestro car seats after the seats failed tests conducted by Consumer Reports magazine. The Consumer Reports test showed the Maestro booster seats can crack and fail in 30 mph frontal collisions. The seat’s plastic shell cracked and the safety harness loosened in the Consumer Reports tests. Both failures occurred as the seat was being used with its own 5-point harness and not as a booster seat. Evenflo admitted that its own tests confirmed Consumer Reports findings.

Affected model numbers in the United States include 3101198, 3101980, 31011048, 31011049, and 31011059. In Canada, the recall includes model number 31011057C. Concerned parents can also contact the company directly at (800) 233-5921.

Child safety seats and child car seats are critical for our children’s safety. However, many parents do not understand how to select an appropriate car seat and 75% (3 out of 4) car seats are not installed correctly.

Parents should ask two critical questions about car seats:

(1) Which car seat is appropriate for my child?

(2) How do I install the car seat and secure my child correctly?

As a new parent, I spent hours researching an appropriate child safety seat for my daughter. I read literature, reviewed crash tests, and talked to safety experts. However, navigating the world of child safety seats and competing sources of information was daunting. Nearly every child safety seat is different and child seat manufacturers do a poor job of educating and instructing parents on how to properly select and install child car seats. There is something inherently wrong with a product that is mis-installed or used incorrectly 75% of the time.

Remember that your child is your most precious cargo. Choosing the proper car seat is an important decision and correctly installing the child safety seat is critical to protecting your child in a collision.

(c) Copyright 2010 Brett A. Emison