Dorel’s Safety 1st car seats draw class action lawsuit over choking hazard

Safety 1st class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Crystal Shore filed a class action lawsuit against Dorel Juvenile Group Inc.
• Why: Shore claims Dorel failed to disclose that its Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint Car Seat has a defect that makes it unreasonably dangerous.
• Where: The Safety 1st class action lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges Dorel failed to disclose that its Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint Car Seat has a defect that makes it unreasonably dangerous.

Plaintiff Crystal Shore claims Dorel failed to disclose at the point of sale that the Safety 1st car seat poses a heightened choking hazard.

Shore argues the car seat has a defect that allows its headrest cover to be easily removed by infants and young children, exposing foam that poses a choking hazard.

“Before the Products were made available for sale to consumers, Defendant was aware, or should have been aware, that the headrest cover could become unsecured,” the Safety 1st class action states.

Dorel recalled 180,000 units of the Safety 1st car seat in April, but Shore claims the recall was “wholly inadequate” since it only offered to provide parents with a free recall kit with a new headrest pad to cover the headrest foam.

“This headrest cover does not provide real relief and restoration of the benefit of the bargain, and instead leaves parents with a Car Seat that has diminished in value, remains dangerous, and they will not use again given the mistrust that has arisen,” the lawsuit argues.

Class action claims Dorel misrepresented safety of car seat

Shore argues Dorel misrepresented the safety of the Safety 1st car seat to increase profits and market share in the baby products market.

“Consumers value safe products to give to their babies free of choking hazards. Dorel knows this: the brand at issue is called ‘Safety 1st,’” the Safety 1st class action says.

Shore claims Dorel is guilty of breach of implied warranty of merchantability, violations of state consumer fraud acts, including California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law, and unjust enrichment.

Shore demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory, statutory or other monetary damages for herself and all class members.

In related news, Columbus Trading-Partners has recalled several Cybex Aton and Eos car seat models due to a defect in the harness hip anchorage retention hooks, which may bend and cause the harness strap to detach, posing a risk of neck injuries to children during a crash. 

Have you ever owned a Safety 1st car seat? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Christina Xenides, Lisa R. Considine and Mason A. Barney of Siri & Glimstad LLP and Kevin Laukaitis of Laukaitis Law LLC.

The Safety 1st class action lawsuit is Shore v. Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-11232, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

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