CPSC, Cosco Announce Recall to Repair Two WaysTM Tandem Strollers

February 17, 1999
Release # 99-062

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For Immediate Release;
Contact:Nychelle Fleming
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1192

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cosco Inc., of Columbus, Ind., is recalling about 57,000 GeobyTM Two WaysTM tandem strollers for in-home repair. The plastic locks on the folding mechanisms can break during use, causing the strollers to suddenly collapse. If strollers collapse, babies can suffer injuries from the fall, including head injuries from hitting concrete sidewalks. The child's arms, hands or fingers can be cut if they are on the locking mechanism when the stroller collapses.

Cosco has received about 3,000 complaints of locks failing, which includes 250 reports of strollers unexpectedly collapsing. This resulted in more than 200 injuries to babies, including head injuries, a fractured forearm, finger and arm lacerations requiring stitches, and bumps, bruises and cuts.

Cosco is offering consumers a free repair kit with instructions. The repair kit contains two secondary locking pins that will prevent the stroller from collapsing.

The Cosco GeobyTM Two WaysTM tandem strollers being recalled are model numbers 01-644 and 01-645 (with car seat), manufactured from February 1997 through February 1998.

The model number and manufacturing date are stamped on a label on the back leg frame, just above the wheel. The manufacturing date represents the week and year. Those manufactured between 0697 and 0698 are involved. The stroller is designed so that two babies can sit behind one another. The stroller's front seat reverses so children can ride face to face and the back seat reclines. Other features of the stroller include dual quilted canopies, a market basket and a utility bag. "Cosco by GeobyTM" is written on the plastic side lock covers and "Two WaysTM" is embroidered on the front seat's crotch support.

Mass merchandise and juvenile products stores nationwide sold these strollers for about $110 (model 01-644) and $170 (model 01-645).

Consumers should stop using the strollers immediately and call Cosco at (800) 221-6736 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or at www.coscoinc.com to receive the free repair kit. Cosco will help consumers identify whether their strollers are involved in this recall.

Strollers manufactured after February 1998 are not involved in this recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. For information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call the above numbers or visit the web site at http://cpsc.gov/about/who.html.