BRITAX MARATHON, WIZARD, HUSKY, AND TRAVELLER PLUS CHILD RESTRAINTS

Aug 05, 2004 — Recall Campaign #04C002000

BRITAX MARATHON, WIZARD, HUSKY, AND TRAVELLER PLUS CHILD RESTRAINTS. THE A-LOK ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY CAN ALLOW SLIPPAGE OF THE WEBBING RESULTING IN LOOSENING OF THE HARNESS STRAPS.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 355,516 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

04C002000

Manufacturer:	Britax Child Safety, Inc.
Recall date:	August 05, 2004
NHTSA Campaign #:	04C002000
Units affected:	355,516

Description:: BRITAX MARATHON, WIZARD, HUSKY, AND TRAVELLER PLUS CHILD RESTRAINTS. THE A-LOK ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY CAN ALLOW SLIPPAGE OF THE WEBBING RESULTING IN LOOSENING OF THE HARNESS STRAPS.
Consequeces:: IF SLIPPAGE WERE TO OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE CHILD COULD MOVE TOO FAR FORWARD, POSSIBLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Corrective action:: REGISTERED OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CONDITION ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 11, 2004, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CHECK FOR SLIPPAGE AFTER EVERY USE. IF SLIPPAGE IS OCCURRING BEFORE REPLACEMENT STRAPS CAN BE MAILED, THE USE OF THE RESTRAINT SHOULD BE STOPPED AND CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT BRITAX AT 1-800-683-2045 FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. REGISTERED OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT ADJUSTER STRAP BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2004.
Notes:: ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

BRITAX E9L06 (MARATHON) Complaints
MY 1 YEAR OLD SON IS ABLE TO REACH THE HARNESS RELEASE BUTTON ON HIS BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT AND HAS MANAGED TO LOSEN HIS HARNESS ENOUGH TO ESCAPE THE CAR SEAT WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE CALLED BRITAX SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF I AM DRIVING AND GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THE CAR SEAT MIGHT AS WELL NOT EVEN BE THERE IF HE HAS LOSENED THE HARNESS. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHERS INDICATING THEIR CHILDREN WERE ALSO ABLE TO LOOSEN THEIR HARNESSES WHILE PARENTS ARE DRIVING. BRITAX ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE THIS IS AN ISSUE AND BECAUSE IT IS NOT A "MANUFATURER'S DEFECT" THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO REDESIGN THE CAR SEAT TO MAKE IT SAFER. IT IS NOT REALISTIC TO EXPECT A 1 YEAR OLD TO COMPLY WHEN YOU TELL HIM NOT TO LOOSEN THE HARNESS.THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND BRITAX SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REDESIGN THEIR CAR SEATS SO THAT THE CHILD CANNOT RELEASE THEIR OWN HARNESS. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LOSE A CHILD JUST TO PROVE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.;
BRITAX E9L07 (WIZARD) Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BRITAX E90742 (NA) WIZARD CHILD SEAT. WHEN FACING THE CHILD SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE SAFETY LATCH THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE CHILD WAS SEATED IN THE CHILD SEAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, BUT WAS UNHARMED. THE SEAT WAS REGISTERED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.;
BRITAX E9L30 (HUSKY) Complaints
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT ON THIS SEAT. BRITAX ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT ONCE ALREADY. THE STRAP THE GOES THROUGH THE A-LOK ADJUSTER AND HAS THE SPLITTER PLATE ON THE OTHER END WHICH THE HARNESS ATTACHES TO HAS BECOME HORRIBLE FRAYED AND HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A DEEP GOUGE IN THE SECTION THAT WAS ROUTED THROUGH THE A-LOK ADJUSTER ITSELF. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT CONTINUING TO USE THIS CAR SEAT FOR MY GRANDSON WHO IS NEARING THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF THE SEAT SINCE THIS STRAP HOLDS THE HARNESS TO THE SEAT ITSELF. THE STRAP WAS REPLACED BY BRITAX BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL STRAP WEBBING WAS TOO THIN. THIS THICKER STRAP WEBBING HAS FAILED AS WELL AND HAS FRAYED AND EVEN HAS THIS LARGE GOUGE CUT INTO IT, APPARENTLY BY THE A-LOK ADJUSTER WHICH KEEPS IT LOCKED IN PLACE. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING AND DISCOURAGING, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. *TR;