No Walk in the Park: Stroller Recall

The announcement stopped parents in their tracks: stroller-maker Maclaren announced it was recalling every single umbrella-type stroller it has sold in the United States. The British company announced the recall of an estimated one million strollers because of a danger that young children will have their fingers amputated by the folding mechanism.

The source of the problem is a side hinge into which very young children can stick their fingers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission told parents to immediately stop using the umbrella strollers. The strollers have caused at least a dozen reported fingertip amputations.

The November recall is the second-largest stroller recall of the decade. In 2005, Graco Children’s Products recalled 1.5 million strollers. The recall applies to all umbrella-type Maclaren strollers sold in the U.S. since they were introduced here 10 years ago. The recalled models are the Volo, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Triumph, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Techno, Twin Triumph and Easy Traveller. The strollers are all manufactured in China, said Maclaren.

The affordable high-end strollers (ranging in price from $100 to $360) have been enormously popular. Industry observers say it’s too early to gauge the long-term financial impact of the massive recall on Maclaren.

Parents can contact the company via its Web site to get free protective hinge covers. Some parents were critical of the company’s response to the recall; the firm was reportedly unprepared for the initial deluge of requests for hinge covers.

If your child has been injured by a Maclaren stroller, please talk to a personal injury attorney to learn how the law can protect you and your family.