(We will have more detailed comments on the
Consumer Reports May 2005 crash tests shortly; meanwhile, some breaking
news):

Hi folks: Just got this statement
from Combi about the Avatar. As you may know from discussions on our message
board, Consumer Reports latest crash test reports (May 2005) rate the Combi
Avatar as “unacceptable.” Specifically, the Avatar failed a crash test when
installed with LATCH in a rear-facing mode with a 35 pound dummy.

We asked Combi for a statement about
this matter and here it is:

COMBI
STATEMENT:

As a company, Combi USA
respects Consumer Reports as a reporting agency
and
are taking their recent findings regarding
the Combi Avatar Convertible
Restraint very
seriously. We are shocked by the rating the Combi
Avatar
received and intend to perform a
thorough investigation.

By law, all car
seat manufacturers, including Combi, are required to
test
all restraints to meet the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213
(FMVSS213). Our
current test results are in stark contrast to
the
information published by Consumer Reports.
Combi is so concerned about
child passenger
safety that, in addition to the required testing, we
perform
interval tests which are not required
by FMVSS213.

As a result of the recent
findings by Consumer Reports, Combi USA is
taking
the following
actions:

1. We recommend that consumers
cease using the Avatar Convertible
Restraint
with LATCH installation and
immediately begin to use the restraint with
the
standard vehicle belt
installation.

2. Combi is in the process
of securing appointments to re-test the
Avatar
Convertible Restraint. Results of this
testing will be made available to
the public as
quickly as possible.

3. Combi is in the
process of requesting the test data from
Consumer
Reports as well as the sample
restraints that were crash tested.

If you
have any further questions, please contact
800-99-COMBI.
—

We
will post updates to this matter to our blog (see button above).

Alan & Denise
Fields
authors, BABY BARGAINS