Graco has recently issued a press release which is announcing their voluntary recall of nearly 3.7 million car seats and booster seats. KFDX News Channel Three recently reported on the faulty buckles that may trap children in car seats. Apparently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received numerous complaints that parents had to use excessive force to get their children out of the car seat and booster seat harnesses. The harness buckle remains in the latched position, locking children in their seats. Many parents also reported having to cut the straps to free their children, because the buckle wouldn’t unlatch. Thankfully, Graco is responding to these complaints and is now conducting a voluntary recall.
The Recall
According to the manufacturer’s website, all toddler convertible car seats and harnessed boosters seats from 2009 to 2013, with a couple of exceptions, are being recalled. Listed below are the models that are currently being recalled. If you have one of these models, you need to contact Graco for a harness buckle replacement kit. The website is also encouraging consumers to clean their harness latches to see if that makes a difference. Ultimately, the safest option is to get the replacement harness buckle. If you registered your car seat or booster seat with Graco, you’re likely going to receive a letter about the situation. It doesn’t hurt to go ahead and contact the company for a replacement kit though.
Models Being Recalled
- Cozy Cline
- Comfort Sport
- Classic Ride 50
- My Ride 65
- My Ride 70
- My Ride 65 with Safety Surround
- Size4Me 70
- Head Wise 70
- Head Wise 70 with Safety Surround
- Ready Ride
- Smart Seat
- Smart Seat with Safety Surround
- Nautilus 3-in-1 (booster seat)
- Nautilus Elite (booster seat)
- Nautilus Plus (booster seat)
- Argos 70 (booster seat)
- Argos 70 Elite (booster seat)
Keeping Children Safe
Although the company’s website says this malfunction doesn’t impact the effectiveness or usefulness of the car seat, this faulty harness buckle can be a serious problem in the event of a crash. Babies, toddlers and children need to be appropriately and safely restrained while the car is moving, but in the event of a crash, parents and first responders need to be able to free them quickly. When time is of the essence, the button on a latch needs to work. Lives could depend on it.