Community Corner

Child Entrapment Concerns Cause Graco to Recall 3.8 Million Car Seats

Graco recalls 3.8 million child car seats.

By Brian Slupski

Graco has recalled 3.8 million car safety seat because of the possibility of entrapment, USA Today reported.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recall notice stated that buckles on the car seats might not unlatch making it more difficult for a child to exit a vehicle quickly in an emergency situation, the newspaper reported.

ABC News reported that the recall covered 11 models that were sold from 2009 through 2013 by Atlanta-based company. Graco is not recalling 1.8 million rear-facing infant seats that use the same buckles. The exclusion was characterized as improper by the NHTSA.

Graco and the NHTSA has received complaints about the buckles: "Some of these consumers have had no choice but to resort to the extreme measure of cutting the harness straps to remove their child from the car seat," the NHTSA letter was quoted by ABC News in its report.

Graco will send owners who registered their car seats replacement buckles. People who did not register their seats can call 800-345-4109. Graco also will send instructions on who to install the buckles.

Seattlepi.com reported that Graco officials said the stuck buckle issue arose because food and beverages were impacting the buckles over time. The infant seats aren't being recalled because the babies don't get food and drinks on their seats, according to company officials.

The NHTSA received 80 complaints about the seats last year concerning the stuck buckle issue.

The recalled models include Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50, My Ride 65, My Ride with Safety Surround, My Ride 70, Size 4 Me 70, Smartseat, Nautilus, Nautilus Elite and Argos 70, USA Today reported.


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