It’s hard to stay in shape when you become a parent. But if you bought a jogging stroller to avoid “dad bod,” listen up.
Take a look at the front swivel-wheel. Does it have a quick-release lever? Watch out — it could loosen and fall off on your next run. If that happens, you will crash. Hard. Usually head first. And your kid might be hurt, too.
Pacific Cycle has recalled 217,000 jogging strollers for exactly that reason. The company has received 139 reports of crashes, which caused 215 people to suffer head injuries, sprains, lacerations, bumps, bruises, and abrasions.
The recalled strollers include:
- Instep Safari
- Instep Grand Safari
- Instep Flight
- Schwinn Turismo
- Schwinn Discover Single
- Double Occupant Swivel
Just read what this parent had to say about a crash involving a Turismo and her two young children:
The front wheel began to shake very hard and buckle…. and the stroller does a forward flip with me coming sailing over the top. The stroller is flipped on top of my 2 children, and I fall to the side and avoid landing on top of them.”
And take a look at her 3 year-old daughter’s head injury:
The recalled strollers were sold from January 2010 through June 2016 for $130 to $350, at retail stores and online. For a list of recalled models, click here.
You should immediately stop using the strollers. Don’t try to return it, because you won’t get a refund. Instead, order a repair kit and switch out the quick-release lever with a traditional screw on/off part to secure the wheel.
A repair video is available at www.pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls/.
Quick-release levers are convenient if you want to take a wheel off without tools. The problem is that most people simply turn the lever like a nut until the wheel seems tight. Due to bumps and vibrations on the street, the lever and wheel can loosen and fall off.