EXTON, Pa. (Febuary 11,2014) — Graco is recalling about 3.7 million car safety seats after discovering that food and dried liquids can make some harness buckles more difficult to open or become stuck.
However, federal regulators say the recall should go deeper.
The recall is voluntary and affects the harness buckles used on all toddler convertible car seats and harnessed booster seats made from 2009 to July 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. And a car seat is always the safest way to transport your child,” a release from the company says.
The cost of the affected units is between $99 and $399.99.
Models Affected: 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, Smart Seat. Harnessed Booster Seats: Nautilus 3-in-1, Nautilus Elite and Argos.
Graco offers a new and improved replacement harness buckle to affected consumers at no cost. If you are experiencing difficulty with your harness buckle and cleaning has not improved its performance, please contact the Graco customer service team at 800-345-4109 (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.) or consumerservices@gracobaby.com. Their official website also offers cleaning and maintenance tips.
According to the New York Times, however, federal regulators are urging the company to expand the recall or face legal action. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants 1.8 million rear-facing seats for infants added (Snugride, Snugride 30, Snugride 32, Infant Safe Seat-Step 1, Snugride 35, Tuetonia 35 and Snugride Click Connect 40).
Graco insists that those models are not impacted because the seats can detach from the base in the event that the buckles fail to work properly.
