Recalling almost 3.8 million child car safety, Graco has issued a warning that children may be trapped by their product, but are refusing to recall other infant seat models, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Child safety seats are being recalled due to buckle malfunction, citing that it causes difficulty in removing the child from the seat and increases the danger of risk injury in case of a crash, fire or any other emergency that needs to child to be quickly removed from the vehicle.
"NHTSA's investigation will remain open pending its evaluation of the Graco recall and until the Agency's consideration of the review of the seven remaining seat models is completed," stated the agency.
The agency continued to negotiate on the warranted SnugRide infant seat that should be recalled. NHTSA say that the company will receive civil punishments if the company removes serious statements that would underplay the public documents.
In an e-mailed expressed by Graco, they suggested the malfunctions of buckles were caused by "food and dried liquids can make some harness buckles progressively more difficult to open over time or become stuck in the latched position."
Graco has offered working replacements to malfunctioned buckle harness to affected consumers at no cost.
The NHTSA started an investigation on four models of the Evenflo child safety seats, which have the same design similar to the Graci seats that were made by the same manufacturer, AmSafe Commercial Products Inc. in Elkhart, Indiana.
Graco included that the specific infant seats were not included to the issued recall, because they were specified by the company as being "uniquely designed to detach from their base for quick release if needed." Those who have had difficulty with the infant-seat buckle, could still contact Graco and receive a replacement buckle, Graco said.
The recall covers 11 child safety seat models sold from 2009 through 2013.
"Graco would like to stress this does not in any way affect the performance of the car seat or the effectiveness of the buckle to restrain the child," said Graco.
NHTSA said there was at least 80 complaints about the seats, with buyers issuing that they had to use excessive force to unlatch the harness buckle. In some cases included, the seat straps had to be cut off to free children.
Graco said that it had been monitoring the buckles since 2009 and had given advice to owners how to use and clean them, and continued to offer replacement buckles, said in a letter to the NHTSA.
The issued models that have being recalled: Cozy Cline; ComfortSport; Classic Ride 50; My Ride 65; My Ride with Safety Surround; My Ride 70; Size4Me 70; Smart Seat; Nautilus; Nautilus Elite; and Argos 70.
"Since this investigation is not related to crash protection, the affected car seats should still be used until the repair kits are available, but repairs should be made as soon as possible," said Joseph Colella, a child safety advocate, emphasizing that the Graco seats should continue to be used.
Source: USA Today "Millions of Graco child (but not infant) seats recalled". Jayne O'Donnell, February 11, 2014
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