CPSC and Chariot Carriers Recall Child Bicycle Trailers and Conversion Kits Due to Injuries

By Marianne on January 18, 2012 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Marianne Frederick

On January 12, 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Thule Child Transport Systems Ltd., d/b/a Chariot Carriers, of Calgary, Canada, announced a recall of approximately 44,000 bicycle trailers and 70,000 bicycle trailer conversion kits due to reports of incidents and injuries received. The CPSC and the company received 24 reports of the bicycle trailer's hitch mechanisms cracking and breaking, causing the trailer to detach from the bicycle. Three of the incidents occurred in the United States.

The Chariot Carriers are manufactured in Canada and convert to strollers, jogging strollers and bike, hike or ski trailers. According to the CPSC announcement, this particular recall involves Chariot bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits. Trailers with serial numbers 1205-xxxx to 0710-xxxx (representing manufacture dates December 2005 through July 2010) located on the left side of the frame are being recalled.

Recalled conversion kits have hitch arms which attach the carrier to the bicycle. Model number 20100503 is printed on a label attached to the aluminum tube (next to the warning label). Older conversion kits that do not have a label, but have a release push button located where the hitch arm inserts into the carrier, are also being recalled at this time.

Chariot bicycle trailers and conversion kits were sold at bicycle stores nationwide. The trailers could be purchased on several websites, from December 2005 through August 2010, for from $400 to $925. The bicycle trailer conversion kits were similarly available from October 2002 through August 2011 for between $40 and $70.

Consumers should stop using the bicycle trailers and conversion kits and not transport children in the trailers. Consumers can　contact the company for a free repair kit which the consumer can install. Chariot Carriers can be reached at (800) 262-8651 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.　Eastern Time,　Monday through Friday, or consumers may visit the firm's website at www.chariotcarriers.com.

To view photos of the bicycle trailers and conversion kits being recalled, please visit the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12085.html.