Britax Stroller Recall Issued Due to Risk of Broken Fingers, Tip Amputation

Roughly 224,000 baby strollers have been recalled by Britax, after the manufacturer received at least eight reports of the strollers snapping down on customer’s hands; including one report of a partial finger amputation and one incident involving a broken finger with severe lacerations.  

The Britax stroller recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on January 30, due to a risk of problems that may occur when the release button is pressed while pulling on the release strap. When this happens, the stroller may pinch the user’s finger, posing a laceration and amputation hazard.

The recalled strollers include Britax models B-Agile with model numbers U341763, U341764, U341782, and, U341783, B-Agile Double Strollers with model numbers U361818 or U361819, and BOB Motion strollers with model numbers U391820, U391821, U391822. The strollers were manufactured between March 2011 and June 2013 and sold in various colors such as black, red, kiwi, sandstone, navy, and orange. Customers may locate the recalled model numbers and manufacture date on a label inside the stroller’s metal frame.

The affected strollers were manufactured in China under Britax Child Inc. of Fort Mill, South Carolina, where they were sold at major retail stores and juvenile product stores nationwide as well as online at Amazon.com, albeebaby.com, buybuybaby.com, diapers.com, toyrsrus.com and other various online retailers from May 2011 through June 2013 for about $250 and $450.

Fingertip amputations have led to a number of large stroller recalls in recent years, often linked to design problems associated with making collapsible strollers as thin as possible. As a result, many contain thin metal parts that can quickly cut through skin that gets pinched when they collapse.

In June 2012, about 36,000 Kolcraft Contours Options stroller were recalled after three children had their fingertips cut off due to an opening that formed when locking and unlocking the hinge mechanism used to adjust the handlebars. In January 2011, nearly 30,000 phil&teds jogging strollers were recalled for the same problem.

More than a million Maclaren Strollers were recalled in 2009, and the recall had to be re-announced in 2011 after the CPSC continued to receive reports of fingertip amputations.

The CPSC recommends customers with strollers affected by the recall to stop using them immediately and contact Britax at 866-204-1665, by email at strollerrecall@britax.com, or by visiting them online at britaxusa.com or bobgear.com and navigate to the “Safety Notice” link for information on how to receive a free repair kit.