Kolcraft Stroller Recall Issued After Childrens’ Fingertips Cut Off

After at least three children have had their fingertips cut off due to a dangerous design, a recall has been issued for about 36,000 Kolcraft Contours Options strollers. 

The Kolcraft stroller recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on June 14, after reports of injuries to both adults and children. Three children had fingertips amputated and two adults had fingers smashed or lacerated by the three and four-wheel strollers.

The CPSC has determined that the injuries occur when an opening forms while locking and unlocking the hinge mechanism used to adjust the handlebars. This presents an amputation and laceration hazard for adults and children, the commission concluded.

The recall affects about 36,000 Kolcraft Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers sold in the U.S. and 270 sold in Canada. The strollers affected by the recall have model numbers that star with ZL002, ZL005, ZL008, ZL015 and ZL018. They were manufactured between January 2006 and November 2009. Most models have the model number and manufacturing date sewn onto a label on the edge of the back of the stroller seat pad, but the ZL002 models have the model number and date on a sticker above the left wheel.

The strollers were sold at child specialty retailers nationwide and online on Amazon.com, Target.com and ToysRUs.com for between $150 and $160 from January 2006 to June 2012.

A similar recall for Maclaren strollers issued in 2009, due to fingertips being lacerated or cut off while the stroller was unfolded or opened. The recall was reannounced last year after stroller injury reports continued to be received by the U.S. CPSC. As of May 2011, there had been at least 149 incidents reported in connection with the recalled Maclaren strollers, including at least 17 fingertip amputations.

In this latest recall, the CPSC recommends that any consumers who have recalled Kolcraft strollers stop using them immediately and contact Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., of Chicago, Illinois to receive a free repair kit. Consumers with questions can contact Kolcraft at (800) 453-7673 or visit the company’s website at www.kolcraft.com.