NHTSA defect investigation · Preliminary Evaluation

Doona preliminary evaluation PE26005

Carry Handle Separation. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the child seat. Opened Jul 6, 2026 and still open — 2 months so far, against NHTSA’s goal of eight months for a preliminary evaluation. open

PE26005 at nhtsa.gov →Every investigation on file →

What NHTSA says

Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filed

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.

Stage Preliminary Evaluation — NHTSA works to complete one within eight months Opened Jul 6, 2026 Closed still open Manufacturer Doona Components Child Seat, Child Seat › Handle (Infant)

A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage: NHTSA has decided the complaints and other information it screened are worth a closer look, and asks the manufacturer for its own data on the condition. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.

What this means for an owner

Source: and what happens next

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.

This one is open. Nothing is owed on the vehicle today; if it becomes a recall, owners are written to and the repair is free. The moment to know is the day the campaign number appears — Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, or take a free one-line alert by model year.

Model years it names

Source: as NHTSA filed them

NHTSA filed this action against Doona without naming a model year — an equipment or manufacturer-level query.

Common questions

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Is PE26005 a recall?

No. A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one has not produced one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Is PE26005 still open?

Yes, as of NHTSA’s latest file: opened Jul 6, 2026, 2 months ago.

Which vehicles does PE26005 cover?

NHTSA filed it against Doona without naming a model year.

From here

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