BRITAX E9W06 (MARATHON) Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BRITAX MARATHON 70 CHILD SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STITCHING AROUND THE HARNESS BUCKLE BECAME LOOSE ALLOWING THE STUFFING TO BE EXPOSED AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE CHILD. THE SEAT WAS RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO REPLACED THE SEAT. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO REPLACE THE SEAT FOR A SECOND TIME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BRITAX E9W06 (MARATHON) CHILD SEAT. THE CHILD SEAT BASE DOES NOT LOCK INTO THE FORWARD FACING POSITION BECAUSE THE BASE LATCH IS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPLACE THE BASE BECAUSE IT IS OUTSIDE THE ONE YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THE CONTACT WILL NEED TO PAY $100 TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT.

THE ADJUSTOR FOR THE TOP TETHER CRACKED IN HALF. HAD TO PAY BRITAX FOR A NEW ONE PLUS SHIPPING. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS WITH MARATHONS SERIAL: E9W0672008780 MODEL: E9W0672 BATCH: 507735 DOM: 03/10/05 I THINK THIS MAY REQUIRE A ADVISORY RECALL. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO MAKE SOMEONE PAY FOR A NEW STRAP FOR A PIECE THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE FULL 6 YEAR LIFE SPAN OF THE SEAT! (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=1999, MAKE=MITSUBISHI, MODEL=LANCER). *TR

BELT MECHANISM ON THE BRITAX CAR SEAT PULLED OUT OF THE LOCATION IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE AND BRITAX REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY SINCE THE SEAT WAS BOUGHT ON EBAY.. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FROM A REGISTERED DEALER OF BRITAX. *NM

BRITAX MARATHON CHILD RESTRAINT: REAR-FACING LOCK-OFFS DAMAGE EASILY, SIMPLY FROM THE PRESSURE OF THE VEHICLE SEAT BELT ON THE PLASTIC LOCK-OFFS. (BRITAX SENT ME REPLACEMENTS SINCE MY CARSEAT WAS WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAT THE ORIGINAL PAIR.) THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT A CAREGIVER WOULD FOLLOW MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL THE CHILD'S CARSEAT AND ASSUME THAT THE RESTRAINT IS LOCKED IN PLACE; THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BE LOCKED, AND THE CARSEAT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY ATTACHED TO THE CAR IN A CRASH. (INCIDENT DATE IS THE DATE I CALLED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO BRITAX, BUT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. THE DESIGN IS FLAWED AND THE REAR-FACING LOCK-OFFS ARE USELESS.) DATE OF MANUFACTURE 5/26/05 MODEL E9W0658 BATCH 255 SERIAL E9W0658014164. *NM

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET RECLINE ADJUSTER TO LOCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *TS THE HARNESS ADJUSTER STRAP WAS FRAYED ON BOTH SIDES. (BRITAX MARATHON MODEL E9W0642) *JB (11/21/05) *SC

BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT - THE LATCH THAT HOLDS THE ADJUSTER STRAP IS FAULTY IN DESIGN. IT IS TOO EASY FOR THE CHILD TO LIFT THE LATCH, LEAN FORWARD AND THE 5-POINT RESTRAINT IS NO LONGER SECURE. THE LATCH IS FACING THE DIRECTION THAT ENABLES A CHILD TO SIMPLE PUT HIS/HER FINGERS CURLED AROUND THE LEVER PULL TOWARD THEM AND LEAN FORWARD RELEASING THE RESTRAINT. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE COMPANY HAD NO RECOMMENDATIONS OTHER THAN GIVING MY CHILD A TOY TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME WHILE IN THE SEAT (STUPID IDEA). MY SON IS ONLY 28 LBS AND 2 YEARS OLD. THIS SEAT IS DESIGNED FOR TODDLERS UP TO 65 LBS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JB

MANUFACTURER FAILED TO SEND RECALL LETTER AND REPLACEMENT KIT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD VALID ADDRESS IN FILE. REGARDING RECALL NUMBER 04C002000, BRITAX USA DID NOT SEND US THE RECALL LETTER. THEY DIDN'T US SEND THE REPLACEMENT ADJUSTER KIT, WHICH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SEND BY SEP 30, 2004. FROM AUGUST 2004 TO OCT 2004, WE RESIDED AT 2833 S BUCHANAN ST, ARLINGTON, VA 22306. BRITAX HAD THIS INFORMATION ON THEIR FILE BASED ON OUR UPDATED REGISTRATION INFORMATION. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL A YEAR LATER BY CHANCE WHEN I WAS BROWSING ON THEIR WEB SITE. MY WIFE PROMPTLY CALLED BRITAX WITH THE MODEL NUMBER AND WE VERIFIED THAT THE CAR SEAT WE HAVE IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL AND THEY SAID THEY WILL SEND THE REPLACEMENT ADJUSTER KIT. THIS REMEDIATION WAS INITIATED BY US, THE CONSUMER, AND ONLY BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL BY CHANCE.