NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE26-005: Carry Handle Separation
- Open
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE26-005 on July 6, 2026; NHTSA's investigations file listed it as open on October 23, 2026. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Doona CAR SEAT/ STROLLER for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE26-005 (also written PE26005)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Open since July 6, 2026
- Opened
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Doona
- Components
- Child Seat; Child Seat — Handle (INFANT)
- Vehicles and equipment
- Doona CAR SEAT/ STROLLER
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE26-005.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of reports alleging unexpected handle detachment on 2020-2024 Doona + Car Seat & Stroller (Doona Car Seat) model car seats. If the handle unexpectedly detaches from the car seat, the car seat could be dropped when placing it in or out of the vehicle, potentially injuring the child. ODI will inform the Consumer Product Safety Commission of this investigation at the time of opening as this product is of shared interest. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to assess the scope, root cause, and risk associated with handle detachments in 2020-2024 Doona Car Seats.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE26-005. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Doona
Doona CAR SEAT/ STROLLER
- model year not given
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE26-005
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.