An issue with the headrest has led to 13 case reports, but no injuries have been reported
Nearly 180,000 Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint car seats are under recall.
By Jessica D’Argenio Waller, MS, CNS, LDN
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that nearly 180,000 Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint Car Seats are being voluntarily recalled for a choking hazard. The foam headrest cover can become unsecured, allowing a child to pull off pieces of the foam. Dorel Juvenile Group, the manufacturer of Safety 1st car seats, has received 13 case reports of children with foam pieces from the headrest in their mouths, though no injuries have been reported.
If you own a Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint car seat, here’s what you need to know about the recall issue—and whether it’s safe to continue using the car seat.
About the Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint Car Seat Recall
The specific Safety 1st car seat models that are under recall are part of the Grow and Go product line, in certain colorways, though not all “Grow and Go” or “Grow and Go Sprint” seats are included. “These other models utilize different headrest foam designs, assembly processes, and/or soft goods execution and are therefore not being included in the recall population,” the NHTSA report says. If you have one of these car seats, it’s worth checking the model number to see if it’s part of the recall.
The model numbers included in the recall are as follows:
CC321GYU
CC321GYUD
CC321GYY
CC321GYYD
CC321HAO
CC321HAR
The company will send a replacement headrest pad assembly kit to affected owners, but in the meantime, you can still use your Safety 1st Grow and Go all-in-one car seat until the replacement kit arrives, the company says. Just be sure to keep an eye on the foam headrest pad and check that your child isn’t able to pick off pieces of the foam underneath.
Remember that adding any other type of pad, pillow, or covering between your child and the car seat can be unsafe and may affect its performance in a crash. “A safe practice to remember is to only use products that are approved by your car seat manufacturer for use with your car seat. Don’t purchase or add third-party foams, pillows, or pads, as they may compromise the crash protection provided by your car seat,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports.
Dorel says that replacement kits are expected to ship out in the middle of June 2025. The kits will include instructions for replacing the existing headrest pad with a new version that securely covers the headrest foam to prevent a child’s access.
If you haven’t yet registered your Safety 1st car seat with the manufacturer, you can do so here. Registering your car seat with the maker (regardless of brand) enables you to stay up to date on any safety information that may affect your product.
The Details
Seats recalled: 179,845 Safety 1st Grow and Go Sprint All-in-One car seats with model numbers starting with CC321. Refer to the list of model numbers below to see if your car seat is affected. You can find the model number on the manufacturing label on the side of your car seat.
Model numbers: CC321GYU, CC321GYUD, CC321GYY, CC321GYYD, CC321HAO, and CC321HAR.
The problem: A child can access the foam used in the headrest support and break pieces off. Loose pieces of foam can present a choking hazard, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: The manufacturer, Dorel Juvenile Group, will mail a replacement headrest pad assembly kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 9, 2025, and replacement kits are expected to be mailed out in mid-June 2025.
How to contact the manufacturer: Owners may contact Dorel’s customer service at 877-657-9546 or gng-sprint-recall@djgusa.com. The Safety 1st site has more information about the recall and remedy.
NHTSA campaign number: 25C006000.
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