Evenflo High Chair Recall: Defective Seat Back Screw Could Fall Out

Approximately 95,000 Evenflo High Chairs have been recalled due to defective plastic caps and metal screws on either side of the seat, which could loosen and fall out. This has resulted in nearly 100 injuries for infants and toddlers, including broken bones, caused when the seatback suddenly reclined.

The Evenflo high chair recall applies to products manufactured prior to January 23, 2007, which were sold at retailers throughout the United States, including Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory Baby Depot, Shopko and Walmart.com. They were sold for between $80 and $110 since January 2006.

Evenflo has received more than 1,000 reports of the plastic caps and screws which secure the seatback coming loose and falling out. This could pose a risk of the child falling out of the high chair or could pose a potential choke hazard if the loose caps and screws are put into their mouths.

At least 140 reports have been received by the company involving the Evenflo high chair seatbacks reclining, falling back or detaching unexpectedly. This has caused at least two children to suffer broken bones, 47 reports of head injuries and bruises, and 45 reports of other cuts, abrasions and bruising.

Families have also reported at least 7 other cases where the caps and screws fell out of the Evenflo high chairs and were found in young childrens’ hands or mouth.

It is unclear when the first reports of problems were received by the manufacturer and whether the recall should have been issued sooner. In recent months, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has drawn criticism for their handling of other baby product recalls.

In October 2008, a historic Delta crib recall was issued for nearly 1.6 million cribs sold for over 10 years. The crib recall was issued due to a defect associated with the drop side of the crib, which resulted in several infant deaths from suffocation or entrapment.

An investigative report published earlier this month by the Chicago Tribune suggested that the recall could have been issued years earlier if the agency had properly acted on a number of reports of problems and infant deaths associated with the Delta cribs. The CPSC has indicated that they changed the way they handle safety complaints last year, which now allows them to look for patterns among every safety complaint.

The Evenflo high chair recall involves chairs with the following model numbers: 3001395A; 3001633A; 3001669; 3001700A; 3001713; 3001713A; 3001730A; 3001732A; 3001733; 3001742; 3001742A; and 3001756.

A white label on the seatback bears the model number, “Evenflo” and the production date. “Evenflo” is also printed on the push button located on the front of the tray.

Consumers have been advised to stop using the high chairs immediately and to contact the company for a free repair kit by calling (800) 233-5921.