Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Convertible Recall (aka, this is why we don’t have seats rated beyond 65 lbs. anymore)

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UPDATE 9/13/21: The recall is expanded to include the Pria 70, Pria 85 and Pria 85 Max models made in 2019, 2020 & 2021.  Please see: Official Pria 70 and Pria 85 Recall Information

UPDATE: 9/16/21: Registered consumers and those who contact us will receive a free repair kit, including a replacement instruction manual and new labels to apply to their seats. The new manual and labels will update the forward-facing internal harness weight limit of the car seat to 65 lbs. or 49 in.

YOU MAY CONTINUE TO USE THIS CAR SEAT IN BOTH REAR-FACING MODE AND FORWARD-FACING MODE FOR CHILDREN UP TO 65 LBS. OR 49 IN. TALL, CONSISTENT WITH THE UPDATED INSTRUCTION MANUAL AND LABELS INCLUDED IN YOUR REPAIR KIT.

Maxi-Cosi, owned by parent company Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., is voluntarily recalling certain Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 & 85 Convertible car seats. The recalled Pria 70 & 85 models were all manufactured between January 1, 2019 – August 17, 2021. If you own a Maxi-Cosi Pria 70, Pria 85 or Pria 85 Max model made within that date range, please contact Dorel customer service by emailing [email protected] or by calling 877-657-9546.

If you own a Pria 70 or 85 model manufactured before 1/1/2019, or if you own a different Pria model such as the newer Pria 3-in-1 or Pria Max 3-in-1, your seats are NOT affected by this recall.

Why are the Pria 70 & 85 models being recalled?

This recall stems from the findings that this batch of Pria 85 models (approximately 83,000 units), which are rated for kids weighing up to 85 lbs., exceed the maximum head excursion limits of 813mm when compliance testing was done with the 10-year-old test dummy (ATD), and with Pria 85 installed with JUST a lap-only seat belt and no tether. Imagine an oversized test dummy (the size of a 10-year old), crammed into a convertible car seat and the only thing securing it in the crash test is a simple 2-point, lap-only seatbelt. It sounds ridiculous and would probably look even more ridiculous if you saw this setup with your own eyes. Is this real world? Definitely not. However, this is what FMVSS No. 213 requires for any car seat with a harness weight limit greater than 30 kg (65 lbs.), and clearly the Pria 85 struggled to meet this compliance standard.

How can I tell when my Pria 70 or 85 model was made?

To find the date of manufacture on your Pria 70 or 85, look for a sticker label on the side of the shell. Just under the airplane icon, there should be info regarding the seat’s date of manufacture – plus the model number and model name.

Is it safe to continue using my Pria 70 or 85 if it’s installed rear-facing?

Yes. There are no safety or compliance issues (to our knowledge), with these recalled Pria 70 & 85 models when installed properly in the rear-facing position, using either the seatbelt or lower LATCH anchors.  According to Maxi-Cosi, “Using this car seat in both the rear-facing mode and forward-facing modes for children up to 65 pounds or 49 inches can continue to be used according to all labeled installation methods.”

Is it safe to continue using my Pria 70 or 85 if it’s installed forward-facing with LATCH (lower anchors + tether)?

Yes. For a child weighing less than 40 lbs. (which is the LATCH weight limit for this seat), there are no safety or compliance issues with Pria 70 or 85 when it is installed forward-facing with LATCH (lower anchors AND top tether). If your forward-facing child weighs more than 40 lbs., temporarily install the Pria 70 or 85 using seatbelt PLUS the top tether (see below) and contact Dorel customer service to determine if it is appropriate to continue using the seat in this manner. According to Maxi-Cosi, “Using this car seat in both the rear-facing mode and forward-facing modes for children up to 65 pounds or 49 inches can continue to be used according to all labeled installation methods.”

Is it safe to continue using my Pria 70 or 85 if it’s installed forward-facing with seatbelt + tether?

If your child weighs less than 65 lbs. and is less than 49″ tall, you can continue to use your Pria according to all labeled installation methods.

Contacting Maxi-Cosi/Dorel

Regardless of how you are using your Pria 70 or 85, contact Dorel and make sure your seat is registered. Dorel customer service can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling 877-657-9546.

Overall significance of this recall 

This recall highlights the challenges that car seat manufacturers face when trying to certify their seats to weight limits above 65 lbs. While it’s not an impossible task, it is very challenging (and expensive) to design and engineer a product that can pass 213 testing with the beast that is the 10-yr old ATD, using a 5-point harness seat installed with ONLY a lap belt. Until and unless something changes in the testing standard, it’s highly unlikely that we will see any new conventional harnessed car seats rated to weight limits above 65 lbs.

10 yr old ATD

UPDATE 9/13/2021: The recall is expanded to include the “Pria 70”, “Pria 85” and ‘Pria 85 Max” models from production years 2019, 2020, 2021.  Please see: Official Pria 70 and Pria 85 Recall Information.

UPDATE 9/16/2021: Maxi-Cosi USA and NHTSA have agreed on the remedy to consumers whose car seats are affected by our voluntary recall, which includes Pria 85, Pria 85 Max, and Pria 70 convertible car seats manufactured from 2019-2021.

Registered consumers and those who contact us will receive a free repair kit, including a replacement instruction manual and labels to apply to their seats. The new manual and labels will update the forward-facing internal harness weight limit of the car seat to 65 lbs. or 49 in.
YOU MAY CONTINUE TO USE THIS CAR SEAT IN BOTH REAR-FACING MODE AND FORWARD-FACING MODE FOR CHILDREN UP TO 65 LBS. OR 49 IN. TALL, CONSISTENT WITH THE UPDATED INSTRUCTION MANUAL AND LABELS INCLUDED IN YOUR REPAIR KIT.
If you’re already using or intend to use your seat for a child that weighs above 65 lbs. or is taller than 49 in., we can offer you a RodiSport booster (or a similar booster car seat) free of charge.
Questions:
☎️ Call 877-657-9546
📲 DM us on social media

9 Comments

  1. Pria85 owner June 3, 2022
    • Kecia June 3, 2022
  2. Rebecca August 28, 2021
    • Kecia August 28, 2021
  3. Amy Hall August 28, 2021
    • SafeDad August 28, 2021
    • Kecia August 28, 2021
  4. SafeDad August 28, 2021
    • Kecia August 28, 2021