July 9, 2026 — A recent incident report details a concerning malfunction with an Evenflo CS360212546 car seat, where its SensorSafe chest clip unexpectedly came apart, releasing a button battery. The battery was discovered by a child within the car seat, highlighting a significant safety risk for young occupants.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On June 11, 2026, an incident was reported concerning an Evenflo CS360212546 car seat. According to the report, a child was able to retrieve a button battery from their car seat and handed it to a parent. Upon closer examination, the parent discovered that the SensorSafe chest clip, a component designed to provide alerts regarding child safety and well-being, had malfunctioned. The chest clip had separated, allowing the button battery, which powers the SensorSafe feature, to become dislodged and accessible within the car seat environment.
Safety Concerns
The malfunction of the Evenflo car seat’s SensorSafe chest clip, leading to the release of a button battery, presents severe and immediate safety concerns, particularly for infants and young children:
- Immediate Dangers: Button batteries pose an extreme choking hazard. Their small, round shape makes them easy for children to pick up and ingest. If swallowed, they can become lodged in the esophagus, causing severe chemical burns, tissue damage, and even perforation in a matter of hours. This can lead to life-threatening injuries, including internal bleeding, breathing difficulties, and long-term health complications.
- Long-Term Risks: Even if removed, ingestion of a button battery can result in permanent damage to the esophagus, trachea, and vocal cords. Children may require multiple surgeries, feeding tubes, and extensive medical intervention.
- Who Might Be Affected: Infants and toddlers, who frequently explore objects by putting them in their mouths, are most at risk. Car seats are designed to be a safe haven for children, and the presence of such a hazard within the seating area undermines this fundamental safety expectation.
- Property Damage Potential: While the primary concern is child injury, the chemical leakage from a damaged or ingested battery could potentially cause minor damage to the car seat fabric or other materials, though this is a secondary concern compared to the danger to a child.
What Consumers Should Do
Given the serious nature of this incident, consumers who own an Evenflo CS360212546 car seat, or any Evenflo car seat equipped with a SensorSafe chest clip, should take immediate action:
- Immediate Steps to Take:
- Immediately check your child’s car seat, particularly the SensorSafe chest clip, for any signs of damage, separation, or exposed batteries.
- If you find any loose parts or exposed batteries, remove the car seat from use immediately and store it out of reach of children.
- Do not attempt to repair the chest clip or reinsert the battery yourself.
- Keep any dislodged batteries in a secure place, away from children and pets.
- How to Check if They Own the Affected Product: Verify the model number “CS360212546” on your Evenflo car seat. This information is typically found on a label on the side or bottom of the car seat. Pay close attention to the chest clip assembly for any abnormalities.
- Prevention Measures: Until the issue is fully investigated and resolved by the manufacturer, consider alternative transportation methods or car seats if you have concerns about the safety of your Evenflo SensorSafe chest clip. Never leave a child unattended in a car seat if there’s a risk of an exposed battery.
- Reporting Procedures: If you experience a similar incident or have concerns about your Evenflo car seat, report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov. This helps authorities track incidents and identify potential widespread safety issues.
Manufacturer’s Response
The manufacturer, Evenflo Company, Inc., has acknowledged the incident report. Further details regarding their response, including any investigation, corrective actions, or plans for consumer communication, are not available in the initial incident report but are anticipated given the severity of the potential hazard.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
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Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.