Maclaren stroller broken in pieces!!

[justhat]

We bought a Maclaren Techno Classic stroller (brand new) in July 2004 when our daughter was 4 months old. We didn't really use it till she was out of the infant carrier around 10 months old, so December 2004. We mainly keep it in my husband's trunk and then bring it on vacations since it's lighter than our Gracos. So we've basically been using it about a year and not that often.

Well we brought it with us to WDW 12/25/05 and while we were at Guest Services at the MK exchanging our AP vouchers at 6:45am on 12/26 the right front wheel snapped off. No, we didn't do anything weird to it, just pushed it from the line queue to the Guest Services desk and felt a tiny resistance and noticed the wheel was under the stroller. We medical taped it at First Aid and it held up for the week (thank gosh) and we just attributed the wheel breaking to damage from the airplane (we did gate check it though).

Last week we went to Arizona and brought the still medically taped Maclaren with us. We arrived home on Tuesday and I noticed the left handle was sorta shaky. I lightly shook them both and the left one came off in my hand. Literally the whole black handle just snapped off. Okay fine. It was broken anyway so we weren't too upset. Then just now my husband went to fold it up to put it away before we can get rid of it and the right handle snapped off when he pushed the stroller down to fold it up.

So now the stroller has no handles and no right front wheel. Has anyone had this happen with their Maclaren? I could understand if we bought a cheap stroller or something, but since we spent $300 on it I would expect it to hold up for more than a year, especially since we don't use it much. Now we don't know what to do-we need a new stroller since the Maclaren was so nice to travel with, but we're afraid to drop another $300 on a stroller if the same thing is going to happen. Any suggestions? Do we buy another Maclaren or do we go with another lightweight travel stroller? And if we should go with another brand, which one would you suggest? Or should we just bag the whole idea and go an get a double stroller since we're having another baby in August? (We hadn't planned on a double stroller since we hardly ever used one with our daughter for the 1st 9 months or and she hardly ever uses one now, she prefers to walk.)

 

[thelionqueen]

I would first contact McClaren and describe your situation to you. Seems to me they would be very helpful. good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Maclaren makes special needs strollers (and has for many years) for people up to 100 pounds, so I would certainly expect they know how to make a sturdy stroller. It sounds like you got a dud or it was damaged during gate checking.

 

[justhat]

We thought about calling them, but since we've owned it now for 18 months it's 6 months past its warranty period so we didn't think that would do any good. I guess we'll give it a try anyway, it can't hurt.

 

[metivier]

We thought about calling them, but since we've owned it now for 18 months it's 6 months past its warranty period so we didn't think that would do any good. I guess we'll give it a try anyway, it can't hurt.

We have had great results from Maclaren Customer Service -- I would definitely recommend getting in touch with them.

 

[Mom Possible]

I have had a maclaren volo for 3 years for my older child. So it has taken a lot of weight over 10 trips to wdw.It is still holding up great. I would not judge macs by this one stroller. Good luck!

 

[bartleby1]

I seem to remember about maybe a year ago?? seeing a clip on the news that certain maclaren strollers were having problems with wheels falling off. I'm not sure if they officially recalled them or were just telling people to come in to have them fixed. Definitely contact them because your stroller may be part of the bad batch they had.

ETA: I did a quick search and didn't find a recall but found this page with a little info. There was definitely a problem with certain strollers. I would contact maclaren.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/toys/maclaren.html

Another interesting article:

http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/n_10250/

Apparently, the wheel problem affected a small number of strollers made from one factory in China that were sold in the NY area. Wheels break off in the cold. The article also mentioned that when the strollers are placed in the belly of the plane where it is cold the plastic breaks.

Hmmm... Now I'm wondering whether keeping all of my strollers in the freezing cold garage is a good idea?

 

[Emmaline Lola]

Justthat,

Well 1st of all congratulations on baby #2 on the way! You have helped me with some things on these boards for some time and I think Madison is just a cutie!

My thought would be maybe by leaving it in the trunk of the car, heat and cold from the weather just caused the plastic to be weakened?

I agree with others here and would contact Maclaren, no matter how cold or hot it is a $300 stroller should fall apart after less than 2 years!

I have a second hand peg perego, and "knock on wood" it is in super shape! Call them!

el

 

[justhat]

Thanks for the advice and links. We actually bought our Maclaren from a store in northern NJ, about 10 minutes outside NYC so maybe it was one of the ones affected with the wheel problem. Of course that doesn't explain both handles snapping off, but at least it helps with one problem. The handle part that broke seems like it's metal so it amazes me that it would just snap apart like that. We're going back to WDW in March, so I sorta want to have a stroller for the trip (lighter than our other options that is) but now I'm also kinda afraid to buy a new Mac and then take it on a plane again. We keep it in their stroller bag, it's black with wheels and says Maclaren on the sides, but maybe baggage handlers think it's a golf bag and therefore they're rough with it? Who knows. We gate-checked the Graco a few times and it was so dirty when we got it back which is why we put the Mac in the bag, but maybe we shouldn't.

EL, thanks! I can't tell my husband about your peg perego cause that's the stroller he really wanted but I just couldn't justify another 'bigger' stroller since we already have 2 Gracos and a Combi. He liked the Peg Perego twin and it is super light so I'm considering that, but still not sure if we really need a double or not. I feel like if I buy the double now then what do I take to WDW? But it's good to know yours holds up well.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Have you considered a Peg Perego Pliko P3? It is a bit bigger than a MacLaren. I have an older daytripper but my youngest hated the recline seat of the umbrella stroller. The Peg stands when folded, has a snack tray for baby, baby sits straight up but can recline, and it folds umbrella style. You can use it for Madison now (I can't believe how big she is!) and then when you take new baby Madison can use the running board on the back. If Madison needs the stroller you can use a sling for the baby. By the time baby is too big to carry Madison won't be needing the stroller much at all. I did, based on recommendation from these boards, purchase a transport bag for my Peg Perego for the plane.

For one of my Disney trips I purchased a MacLaren Rally Twin. What a waste of money! My youngest really HATED this stroller and we never use it at home.

Congrats and good luck!

 

[justhat]

Thanks Lovesdumbo! I never really saw a P3, but I have heard good things about them and knowing there's a running board on the back has sold me that I need to go look at them. That's really perfect, at least I think, cause Madison's really not big on the stroller now, she much prefers to walk and she's pretty good about staying right next to me. And we hardly ever used a stroller when she was a baby because we kept her in a Bjorn like you said (though I actually plan to get a sling for this one cause I think little babies at least would be more comfortable in slings than Bjorns). So that's why I was afraid of just getting a double cause I don't want it to be a waste and then have to lug around something bigger than I have to. Tomorrow I'll be heading out to check out the P3. Thanks again! Oh, and I can't believe how big Madison is either-I just started to plan her birthday party and I can't believe she's going to be 2!

 

[justhat]

Okay, so I'll be calling Maclaren today, but in the meantime I've been looking at the Peg Perego Pliko P3, which I have decided is my solution to a double stroller. Thanks lovesdumbo! Now here's my question. I have seen some good sales on the 2005 model, but is it worth saving a few bucks or should I get the 2006? Anyone know if there would be a difference? I think it's just the colors, but I can deal with the 2005 colors for the price difference if that's it. But I'm sorta nervous now cause our Maclaren, though we bought it in July 2004, was made in October 2003 (so yes, I really think it was part of that defective batch sent to the NYC area). We didn't know that at the time, we just bought it, didn't even think about what year it was. So what would you guys do-go with the cheaper 2005 or get a new 2006?

Oh yeah, also, I've seen on some websites that for 2006 they are calling them P3 Freestyle, MT, or Classico. Any difference between those?

 

[lovesdumbo]

I don't know anything about the 2006 models but when I bought mine back in the summer of 2004 I called Albee baby to inquire about the differences between the 2003 & 2004 models and they were very knowledgeable. Have you found that site in your searches. I also purchased my MacLaren Twin from them and had very good service both times and very good prices. Looks like the 2006 model has different fabric designs, different bottle holder, and "improved" 1 hand fold. It looks like there is also a "pliko lite" but that doesn't have a baby tray, has a different 5 point harness (I LOVE the one on the other Plikos), and doesn't have the running board.

Good luck with MacLaren! And Happy Birthday to Madison. My baby just turned 3 last week but I actually find it harder to believe that DS turned 5 on Jan 10th. My oldest DD is 6 1/2.

 

[justhat]

Happy birthday to your little ones too! So how do you find the age difference in your kids? Madison will be 2.5 years older than this baby and I'm sorta worried about that. I had planned to have a bit more of a space (for my own benefit really, Madison is not a model sleeper so I needed more time to recoup, but hey, who am I to try to plan any of my kids!!?!).

Thanks for the info, I think the pregnancy brain has gotten to me cause I honestly didn't even notice the differences you mentioned, other than the colors. Someone just woke up when the firetruck went by so I should go!