Graco Recalls Millions of Dangerous Child Car Seats

Massive Graco Car Seat Recall Gets Even Bigger

MARCH 14, 2014 UPDATE—Only a month ago, Graco Children's Products announced the fourth-largest car seat recall in history. Now, the popular car seat manufacturer has added an additional 403,000 child seats to this record-breaking recall.

Graco originally recalled the 3.7 million dangerous child car seats due to defective and unsafe safety harnesses. The harness buckles were reportedly becoming difficult to unlatch and becoming stuck in the latched position after exposure to children's foods or dried liquids. In emergency situations, some parents had difficulty removing children from the safety seats and resorted to cutting through the safety harnesses.

The additional toddler and harnessed booster seats involved in the recall were produced from 2006- 2014 and were made with the same unsafe safety harnesses. The newly added models include:

• Argos 70 Elite
• Ready Ride
• Step 2
• My Ride 65 with Safety Surround
• My Size 70
• Head Wise 70 with Safety Surround
• Nautilus 3-in-1
• My Size 70
• Nautilus Plus
• Smart Seat with Safety Surround

Defective Car Seat Harnesses Cause Fourth Largest Car Seat Recall in History

FEBRUARY 13, 2014 ORIGINAL STORY—In one of the most massive recalls of this kind in history, the car seat manufacturer Graco has agreed to recall 3.7 million child car seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requested the large-scale recall due to defects associated with the car seats' harnesses.

The NHTSA began investigating the dangerous car seats after reports surfaced that the red release button in the center of the harness was becoming difficult to unlatch, and even becoming stuck in the latched position. The NHTSA found that food or dried liquids made some harness buckles progressively more difficult to open over time.

Since many young children's car seats are no stranger to a bit of food or liquid, many consumers experienced issues of this nature. A car seat harness that is tough to unlatch or stuck in the latched position can make it difficult or impossible to remove a child quickly in a car accident or emergency.

The recall affects harness buckles used on all toddler convertible car seats and harnessed booster seats manufactured from 2009 to July 2013. It covers 11 different Graco car seat models.

The recalled car seat models are:

• The Cozy Cline
• The Comfort Sport
• The Classic Ride 50
• My Ride 65
• My Ride 65 with Safety Surround
• My Ride 70
• Size4Me 70
• My Size 70
• Head Wise 70
• Smart Seat

The harnessed booster seats that are part of the recall are the Nautilus 3-in-1, Nautilus Elite and Argos. The NHTSA is also asking the manufacturer to recall 7 additional models totaling 1.8 million more child seats. Graco is officially contesting this government request.

Was Your Child Injured by a Defective Car Seat?

Car seats are made to save your infant's or toddler's life and prevent injuries, and normally they do. Unfortunately, sometimes they cause injuries…especially if the car seat is defective. And if that happens, it's devastating. Serious injuries can take your child's life, or leave them with permanent medical problems.

If your child was injured by a defective car seat, we wish more than anything that we could turn back the clock. But we can fight to get justice for your child, and compensation for the piles of medical bills you now have.

Contact Edgar Snyder & Associates at 412-394-1000 or submit your information online with the form at the top right of this webpage for a free legal consultation.