Graco Child Safety Seat Recall -1.9 Million Child Car Seats

After months of controversy, a Graco child safety seat recall has been announced for 1.9 million additional child safety seats that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are not safe.

Controversy began in February of this year, when the NHTSA demanded that Graco child safety seat recall due to problems with the seatbelts. The product recall was one of the largest child safety seat recalls in the last five years, but the federal agency insisted that the manufacturer did not recall enough of the seats.

The NHTSA warned that the child safety seats had a buckle that could make it “difficult to remove the child from the restraint, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash, fire or other emergency.” However, the NHTSA said later that, although Graco’s product recall covered 11 models of child safety seat, the company should have recalled an additional 7 models.

Finally, after months of back and forth, Graco has expanded their product recall to cover an additional 1.9 million child safety seats with faulty seatbelts. The product recall expansion was announced on Tuesday, July 1st, and covers child safety seats manufactured between July 2010 and May 2013.

Graco has offered a replacement seatbelt buckle kit to parents whose child safety seats are affected by the Graco child safey seat recall. There have been no reported injuries due to problems with the buckle, but Graco encourages parents to get the kit anyway, as many consumers have reported that the seatbelt buckle requires unnecessary force to unlock.

Child Safety Seat Regulations

When you are expecting a child, purchasing a child safety seat is one of the most important decisions to consider.  There are a variety of options to choose from, and although protecting your child is foremost in your mind, he or she may not be as safe in the back seat of your vehicle as you think.

The federal government mandated an attachment system, known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) to be put in place after inspections found child-safety seats were frequently installed incorrectly.

A 2004 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that belt buckles and other seat hardware could get in the way of the child seat connectors, and that the anchors could become buried in the seat and therefore be out of reach. Consistent problems with belts and buckles on child safety seats can lead to product recalls to improve safety conditions for children; however, manufacturers are consistently on the defensive regarding their products, sometimes compromising child safety for profit margins.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help With Defective Product Cases, Including Child Safety Seat Defects

If you or someone you know has been injured by defective or dangerous product, such as a defective child safety seat, and believe that a product recall should have been issued or was not issued on time. we urge you to contact one of our lawyers as soon as possible because you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case.  803.252.4800.