BRITAX E9L06 (MARATHON) Complaints

THE BRITAX MARATHON CHILD CAR SEAT HAS A HARNESS ADJUSTMENT "LATCH" THAT ALLOWS YOU TO LOOSEN AND ADJUST THE HARNESS. THE DESIGN OF THE CAR SEAT HAS PLACED THE HARNESS ADJUSTMENT LATCH WITHIN EASY REACH OF A CHILD. THE PLACEMENT OF THE LATCH IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY ALLOWS OUR CHILD (WHO HAS BEEN PROPERLY SECURED INTO THE CAR SEAT) TO LIFT UP ON THE LATCH. WHILE USING THE LATCH AS LEVERAGE, HE CAN LEAN FORWARD AND SUBSTANTIALLY LOOSEN THE HARNESS. BECAUSE THE HARNESS BECOMES LOOSE, MY TODDLER IS AT RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY/EJECTION FROM SEAT AND CAR IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT BE SECURELY RESTRAINED. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY TODDLER FALLS WELL WITHIN THE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT GUIDELINES LISTED IN THIS CAR SEAT'S USER GUIDE--HE IS ALMOST EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE RANGE. WE SECURE HIM IN THE CAR SEAT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE USER GUIDE. WE HAVE ALSO SECURED THE SEAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AS REFERENCED IN THE USER GUIDE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER BRITAX CAR SEATS (IN ADDITION TO THE MARATHON MODEL) HAVE THIS SAME DESIGN. I AM SENDING A LETTER VIA CERTIFIED MAIL TO BRITAX TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. I AM ASKING BRITAX TO: (A) REPLACE OUR CAR SEAT WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF LATCH DESIGN; OR (B) REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR PURCHASE PRICE OF THE CAR SEAT. ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE SUCH AS CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, ISSUING A RECALL, ETC. IS CERTAINLY APPRECIATED. I AM UNABLE TO FIND A MANUFACTURE DATE FOR THIS CAR SEAT--NOT SURE WHERE TO LOOK. THEREFORE, I AM REFERENCING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE DATE OF THE USER'S GUIDE (OCTOBER 2002) IN MY COMPLAINT. ALSO, THERE IS A CHECKBOX ON YOUR COMPLAINT FORM THAT JUST SAYS "OEM". I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS SO I JUST LEFT THE BOX CHECKED AS "NO." *LA

REGARDING A BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT. SERIAL #E9LO6774840 MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 18,2003. AFTER ONLY 6 MONTHS OF USE WITH AN INFANT, UNDER 20 LBS, THE PLASTIC BASE IS CRACKED AND BROKEN. CONTACTED BRITAX WHO WILL ONLY REPAIR DAMAGE ONCE CAR SEAT IS SENT TO THEM IN N.C. BRITAX WILL NOT ACCOMMODATE CONSUMERS WHO DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER SEAT FOR THEIR CHILD IN THE MEANTIME. BRITAX STATES IT IS THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN ANOTHER SEAT, EVEN THOUGH THEIR PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE. BRITAX CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT ALSO STATED THE BROKEN BASE WILL NOT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE SEAT. I AM TRYING TO GET THAT IN WRITING FROM BRITAX. HOWEVER MANAGEMENT COULD NOT SAY AT WHAT POINT THE SEAT WOULD BE UNSAFE IF THE BASE CONTINUES TO BREAK. *AK I FEEL SINCE THE SEAT IS STILL UNDER THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY BRITAX SHOULD REPLACE A BROKEN CAR SEAT, NOT REPAIR. ALSO NOT INCONVENIENCE THE CONSUMER MAKING IT THEIR PROBLEM TO BUY ANOTHER SEAT IN THE MEANTIME WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR THE BRITAX IN THE FIRST PLACE. BRITAX IS KNOWINGLY CONDONING THE USE OF A BROKEN CAR SEAT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. *AK

BRITAX MODEL # E9L0606, THE TODDLER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE HARNESS CLIP, OPENED THE FLAP AND RELEASED THE TENSIONER ON THE 5 POINT HARNESS STRAP. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

BRITAX MARATHON CONVERTIBLE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CAN BE EASILY LOOSENED BY MY 2 YEAR OLD. THE HARNESS ADJUSTER LEVER IS TOO CLOSE TO THE CHILD. I HAVE TIGHTENED THE STRAPS VERY TIGHT AND ALL HE HAS TO DO IS REACH HIS ARM FORWARD AND PULL THE HARNESS ADJUSTER LEVER AND WITH THE STRAIN ON THE STRAPS, THE STRAPS COMPLETELY LOOSEN INSTANTLY!

THE PLASTIC SEAT BELT LOCK-OFFS FOR THE BRITAX MARATHON CHILD SEATS ARE MADE OF AN INFERIOR PLASTIC THAT IS PRONE TO PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE. UPON FAILURE, THE LOCK-OFF IS NO LONGER ABLE TO GRAB THE SEAT BELT AND MAINTAIN A SECURE FITTING IN THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED TWO IDENTICAL SEATS AND BOTH SEATS FAILED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. BRITAX IS UNWILLING TO LISTEN TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I HAVE KEPT THE TWO FAILED COMPONENTS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

CAR SEAT BRITAX MARATHON MODEL E9L0605 SERIAL E9L06057636, MANUFACTURE DATE 03-17-03, BATCH 5603780. CALLED BRITAX CUSTOMER SERVICE, 1-704-409-1700, #2, CUST SVC REP DEBRA HILD CAN RELEASE THE HARNESS LOCK (OPEN AND REMOVE THE RESTRAINING BELTS) AND THE MECHANISM TO LOOSEN THE STRAPS UNASSISTED. OBVIOUSLY, THIS RESULTS IN THE CHILD NOT BEING SAFELY SECURED.*AK

THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT'S FIVE-POINT HARNESS CLIP SNAPPED OFF WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS STRAPPING THE CHILD IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE MODEL NUMBER AND MANUFACTURED DATE. *NM

IWOULD LIKE TO PLACE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE GEN3 SEATBELTS. I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ON THE POSSIBLE DANGER THAT THESE BELTS POSE. WE HAVE A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN AND A 2004 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND IT'S VERY UPSETTING THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS NOT TAKING ACTION. *AK