Jogging Stroller Recall Issued After 200+ Injuries Caused by Front Wheel Problems

Nearly 220,000 single and double occupant jogging strollers are being recalled, after the manufacturer received more than 200 reports of injuries that may be linked to the front wheel loosening or detaching, potentially causing the strollers to tip over suddenly. 

The Instep and Schwinn jogging strollers recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on July 7, following reports problems with the front wheel. To date, 215 fall and tip-over injuries have been reported as a result of the wheels loosening or detaching.

Reports of head injuries, sprains, lacerations, bumps, bruises and abrasions have all been reportedly sustained by both the children occupants and the controlling jogger or walker.

The swivel wheel jogging strollers are designed with two rear wheels and one front wheel, and have larger and wider than usual wheels to sustain bumps so caretakers can jog behind the strollers with the children settled in the stroller seats. However, the recalled strollers may carry an unreasonable risk of tipping-over and pose a fall hazard if the front wheel quick-release locking mechanism becomes undone, causing the wheel to become unstable, wobble, or fall off during use.

The recall includes single and double occupant swivel wheel jogging strollers sold under the brand names Instep Safari, Instep Grand Safari, Instep Flight, Schwinn Turismo, Schwinn Discover Single and Double Occupant Swivel.

All of the recalled strollers are equipped with the quick-release mechanism for detaching the front wheel. The recalled single and double occupancy strollers were sold in a variety of colors and have the model number located on the inside of the metal frame above the rear right wheel. For a full list of the recalled models please visit the recall announcement.

The jogging strollers were manufactured in China under Lerado (Zhongshan) Industrial Co. Ltd and imported by Pacific Cycle Inc., of Madison, Wisconsin where they were sold at small retailers nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Target.com, Toys-R-Us.com, Walmart.com and various other online retailers from January 2010 through June 2016 for between $130 and $350.

Pacific Cycle stated in the recall they would be offering a free repair kit consisting of a replacement mechanism for securing the front wheel that uses a threaded screw on/off method rather than the quick release lever. Customers may visit www.pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls/ for a tutorial on how to install the repair kit.

Customers are being asked to stop using the jogging strollers immediately and contact Pacific Cycle at 877-564-2261 or visit them online at www.pacific-cycle.com, www.instep.net, or www.schwinnbikes.com and navigate to the “Safety Notices & Recalls” link for information on how to obtain a free repair kit to secure the front wheel.