Rear-Facing Infant Seat Fails Crash Test, Recalled

The government announced Wednesday that 15,370 car seats for infants are being recalled as possible safety hazards in crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the rearfacing Dreamride Ultra infant seats failed a government crash test by tipping towards the front of the car by more than 70 degrees.

Federal safety standards require that rear-facing seats stay almost upright during impact in a crash at 30 mph.

The recall is for 15,370 Dreamride Ultra car seats, model 02-179, manufactured from April 8, 1994, through June 15, 1995.

Carole Dingledy, spokeswoman for Cosco Inc., the manufacturer, said the Columbus, Ind., company had no immediate comment.

Dr. Ricardo Martinez, NHTSA’s administrator, urged parents with the seat to contact Cosco to receive a reinforcement kit. Until the kit is in hand, Martinez advised parents without a suitable replacement seat to continue using the Cosco model.

The agency has recorded three deaths and three skull-fracture injuries of infants restrained in rear-facing seats when air bags were deployed in low-speed crashes.

The company’s telephone number is 1-800-314-9327.