Graco Stroller Recall: Fingertip Amputation Hazard

About 1.5 million Graco strollers have been recalled after at least five children had their fingertips cut off by strollers’ hinges.

The Graco stroller recall was announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The stroller recall came after Graco Children’s Products Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., received at least five reports of child fingertip amputations and two reports of fingertip lacerations.

The strollers have a hinge on the canopy which can cut off a child’s fingertip when the canopy is being opened or closed. Only models with the specific hinge mechanism are affected, including the Graco Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems. All of the recalled strollers have a plastic, jointed hinge mechanism with indented canopy positioning notches.

A complete list of model numbers is available in the CPSC Graco stroller recall notice. The strollers were manufactured between October 2004 and February 2008. The model number and manufacture date are located just above the wheels on the lower inside portion of the rear frame.

The strollers, made in China, were sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, K-Mart, Fred Meyer, Meijers, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 and December 2009.

The Graco recall is similar to a Maclaren stroller recall announced in November. About one million Maclaren strollers were also pulled after Maclaren USA, Inc. received reports of at least 12 children having their fingertips amputated in the stroller’s hinges after it was being opened or closed.

The CPSC recommends that consumers immediately stop using the recalled Graco strollers and contact Graco to receive a free protective cover repair kit.