Why the CPSC Is Suing Britax Over Strollers

Most of the baby gear recalls we cover at The Bump are voluntary; brands take the initiative to pull products or offer replacement parts in light of safety complaints they’ve received. But in this case, Britax is refusing to recall certain models of BOB jogging strollers despite 200 complaints of the front wheel falling off during use. So the Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) is suing them.

In an administrative complaint filed last week, the CPSC says that in 17 BOB jogging stroller models, the quick release mechanism that connects the front wheel to the stroller can fail to properly secure it. The complaint adds that “visual inspection does not enable consumers to determine whether the quick release is engaged correctly and the front wheel is secured, and as a result, “children and adults were injured because the defective design of the strollers allowed the front wheel to detach suddenly while the stroller was in use.”

For children riding in the stroller, those injuries have included concussion, head and face injuries requiring stitches, dental injuries, contusions and abrasions. For adults pushing them, likely while running, injuries include a torn labrum, fractured bones and torn ligaments, contusions and abrasions.

These are the 17 three-wheeled BOB models the CPSC believes are affected:

• Ironman
• Ironman Duallie
• Revolution
• Revolution CE
• Revolution Flex
• Revolution Flex Duallie
• Revolution Pro
• Revolution Pro Duallie
• Revolution SE
• Revolution SE Demo
• Revolution SE Duallie
• Revolution SE Duallie Plus
• Revolution SE Plus
• Sport Utility Stroller
• Stroller Strides
• Stroller Strides Duallie
• SUS Duallie

Ultimately, the CPSC is calling for Britax to stop selling the strollers, notify the public about the problem, and offer a remedy like a repair or refund. For now, Britax and BOB are standing their ground, offering the following statement:

At BOB Gear, safety is at our core. Everything we do is driven with a focus on a commitment to safety. All BOB jogging strollers have been rigorously tested, often going above and beyond US performance requirements. They comply with the industry standards and government regulations, including meeting the wheel retention performance requirement (ASTM), adopted unanimously by the CPSC in 2014. Our consumers are well-informed when it comes to the products they buy, and we trust them to use the product correctly.