BRITAX E9L06 (MARATHON) Complaints

IN JULY I BOUGHT A BRITAX MARATHON CARSEAT ONLY TO HEAR SOON AFTER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ADJUSTER STRAP OF THIS AND OTHER MODELS (DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF SLIPPAGE OF THE STRAPS) OF BRITAX CARSEATS. I HADN'T YET SEND IN MY WARRANTY CARD, THEREFORE I CALLED BRITAX THE SAME DAY AS THE RECALL WAS ISSUED (8/12/04). I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT KITS WERE BEING MAILED OUT ON 8/20/04, AND I WOULD RECEIVE MINE 5-7 DAYS AFTER THIS. FAST FORWARD TO 8/31/04 - I HAD NOT RECEIVED MY REPLACEMENT KIT AND WAS VERY ANGRY AS MY CARSEAT DOES INDEED HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STRAP SLIPPAGE. I CALLED BRITAX AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE KITS WERE ACTUALLY BEING MAILED OUT THAT DAY AND I WOULD RECEIVE IT NOW IN ANOTHER 7-10 DAYS. FAST FORWARD ONCE AGAIN TO 9/24/04 AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY REPLACEMENT KIT! I AM EXTREMELY ANGRY NOW AS THE CARSEAT COST $230.00 AND I SHOULD NOT BE USING IT, BUT CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER NOW! I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS GIVEN TWO SEPARATE DATES AND TIMES OF ARRIVAL FOR MY KIT AND THEY HAVE BOTH COME AND GONE! IF THESE ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO ALL CUSTOMERS AT ONCE WHY ARE THEY GIVING ME THESE DATES? I WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN ANGRY IF THEY HAD TOLD THE TRUTH, BUT AT LEAST I WOULD KNOW WHICH STEPS TO TAKE NEXT. IF THIS KIT IS NOT AVAILBLE TO ME FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS MAYBE I WOULD NEED TO INVEST IN ANOTHER CARSEAT ENTIRELY! BUT WITH THIS MISINFORMATION I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT! I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REPLY TO THESE COMPLAINTS, BUT ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM SOMEONE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! *AK

MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT IS ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL TO AT LEAST 2 OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN LODGED. SPECIFICALLY, DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE LATCH THAT LOOSENS THE HARNESS STRAPS, MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CAN EASILY LOOSEN THE HARNESS, AND DOES SO REPEATEDLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I AM A PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION PHYSICIAN SPECIALIZING IN BRAIN INJURY AND SPINAL CORD INJURY IN CHILDREN, AND THEREFORE I AM ACUTELY AWARE OF THE DANGERS THAT THIS LOOSENING COULD PRODUCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. GIVEN THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS, IT MAY REPRESENT A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WARRANTING RECALL AND REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY. *JB

CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN THAT SHE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE AJUSTER STRAP SINCE AUGUST 12, 2004. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

RECALL 04C002000 CONCERNING A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE: CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY BRITAX MANUFACTURER CONSUMER CENTER REPRESENTATIVE THAT SHE SHOULD RECEIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITHIN 2 WEEKS AS OF AUGUST 1, 2004. CURRENTLY, NO PARTS WERE RECEIVED, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE 800 PHONE NUMBER FOR BRITAX. *AK

CAR SEAT CHEST CLIP CAN BE OPENED SIMPLY BY PULLING APART THE TWO SIDES, WITHOUT SQUEEZING THE MIDDLE RELEASE TAB.*AK

RECALL 04 C 002 000 CONCERNING A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE: THE RETAINER CLIP WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RETAINER CLIP. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THROUGH. *AK

BRITAX MODEL#E9L0636. THE CSS INTEGRATED LOCKING CLIP WAS NOT STAYING LOCKED. WHEN THE CSS TECHNICIAN PERFORMED THE LATERAL SIDE TO SIDE TEST THE PRESSURE CAUSED THE CLIP TO UNLOCK. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE CSS WILL FAIL. CSS TECHNICIAN HAD SEEN THIS FAILURE ON NUMEROUS BRITAX CHILD SEATS, BUT THE FAILURE WAS MOSTLY ON THIS MODEL.*AK

BRITAX MARATHON - THE 5 POINT HARNESS STRAP ADJUSTER IS LOCATED WAY TO CLOSE TO THE CHILDS REACH. MY 21 MONTH OLD IS ABLE TO LOOSEN HIS STRAP, BY OPENING THE VELCRO PATCH AND RELEASE THE HARNESS STRAP. *AK

THE BRITAX MARATHON CHILD RESTRAINT CHEST-CLIP DEEPLY CUT MY INFANT DAUGHTER ON HER LEFT ARM. BRITAX REDESIGNED THE CLIP MONTHS BEFORE BUT DID NOT SEND REPLACEMENT CLIPS OR OTHERWISE NOTIFY US OR ANY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. BRITAX CHILD SAFETY INC.'S, CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUPERVISOR, MATTHEW BANASH, WAS NOTIFIED OF MY DAUGHTERS INJURY AND SAID THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW OF ANY BRITAX PLANS TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF THE PROBLEM OR TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE CLIPS, OR TO SEND OUT THE REDESIGNED CLIPS. THE REDESIGNED CLIPS HAVE NO SHARP EDGES. BUT BRITAX STILL CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WORONG WITH THE OLD CLIPS.*AK

THE BRITAX MARATHON CHILD RESTRAINT CHEST-CLIP DEEPLY CUT MY INFANT DAUGHTER ON HER LEFT ARM. BRITAX REDESIGNED THE CLIP MONTHS BEFPRE BUT DID NOT SEND REPLACEMENT CLIPS OR OTHERWISE NOTIY US OR ANY CUSTOMERS. BRITA CHILD SAFETY INC.'S, CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUPERVISOR, MATTHEW BANASH, WAS NOTIFED OF MY DAUGHTERS INJURY AND SAID THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW OF ANY BRITAX PLANS TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF THE PROBLEM OR TO VOLUNARULY RECALL THE CLIPS, OR TO SEND OUT THE REDESIGNED CLIPS. THE REDESIGNED CLIPS HAVE NO SHARP EDGES. *AK