Graco has recalled 11 different models of child car seats sold between 2009 and 2013 adding up to nearly 3.8 million seats. The popular car seats have been recalled because children can get trapped by buckles that do not always unlatch. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this recall is the fourth-largest child seat recall in U.S. history. The Associated Press reports that federal safety regulators want the recall to include another 1.8 million rear-facing car seats designed for infants. The NHTSA may hold a public meeting to call on Graco to recall those infant seats as well, which will put the total number of seats recalled at 5.5 million.
The seats are being recalled because the latches can stop working if they get sticky from spilled food and drinks. A spokesperson for Graco has stated that the infant seats have not been recalled because infants do not have food and beverages as often as children. They will, however, send replacement buckles to owners of infant seats who request the new parts. The company has also offered cleaning tips for the buckles to help prevent children from getting stuck.
At the time of the report, there have been no injuries related to the defect. There have, however, been cases of parents needing to cut their child out of the seat because the latch was stuck. According to a recent ABC News report, the NHTSA is looking into whether models of Evenflo child safety seats will need to be recalled as well. Evenflo has a number of seats that may use the same buckles made by AmSafe Commercial Products Inc. that led to the Graco recall.
It is important to stay abreast of product recalls because there are many dangerous products in the marketplace. If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective product such as a car seat, please make sure you preserve the product for a thorough inspection. Please contact an experienced San Jose product liability lawyer who will help you protect your rights and obtain fair compensation for your losses.