Graco Children’s Products has expanded its recall list adding an additional 403,000 child car seats to its original recall. According to the Associated Press, the American baby products company originally recalled an estimated 3.8 million car safety seats last month due to a defect in the harness buckles.
The voluntary recall cited that the harness buckle “can become progressively more difficult to open over time.” As a result of the defect, children could become trapped as there is a possibility that the buckle will not unlatch.
The recall is in reference to 11 different car seat models that have been released between 2009 and 2013. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration also cited another issue that could arise from the defect. The NHTSA purports that the car seat 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.”
The press release includes a list of the car seat models that have been recalled. The child car seat models affected by the initial recall are: Toddler Convertible Car Seats: Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50, My Ride 65, My Ride 70, My Ride 65 with Safety Surround, Size4Me 70, My Size 70, Head Wise 70 and Smart Seat. Three harnessed booster seats, Nautilus 3-in-1, Nautilus Elite and Argos, were also listed.
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However, the number of recalled car seats may not end there. The NHTSA is also looking to add an additional 1.8 million more car safety seats to already-staggering amount. The additional seats are comprised of infant car safety seats.
“Buckles can get gummed up by food and drinks, making it difficult to remove children. In some cases parents have had to cut harnesses to get their children out,” the NHTSA purported. “The problem increases the risk of injuries in emergencies.”
Graco’s letter to the NHTSA explained why they opted not to include the number of infant car safety seats in the recall. Most infant seats are used differently as adults can remove the entire seat as opposed to simply unbuckling the latch. However, the NHTSA feels otherwise.
“Graco looks forward to further discussions with the agency to resolve any remaining issues relating to those additional car seats,” the letter said. The press release also offered an image new and improved harness buckle to give consumers.
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The recall, which has expanded to a staggering 4.2 million car seats, is the fourth-largest child car seat recall in American history. If the NHTSA opts to include the additional 1.8 million infant car seats, the recall will become the largest of its kind.
Image via Graco Children’s Products, Facebook
Image via Graco Children’s Products, Facebook
Image via Graco Children’s Products (Press Release)