Graco car seat recall

Social media is buzzing with the latest car seat recall by Graco – and for good reason!

Earlier this week Graco announced the voluntary recall of 3.7 million car seats at the urging of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Currently, Graco is recalling 11 of 18 model seats including toddler convertible car seats: the Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50, My Ride 65, My Ride 65 with Safety Surround, My Ride 70, Size4Me 70, My Size 70, Head Wise 70 and Smart Seat and harnessed booster seats including the Nautilus 3-in-1, Nautilus Elite and Argos. Car seats manufactured between 2009 to July 2013 are part of the recall.

Currently, seven infant models that have not yet been recalled include Snugride, Snugride 30, Snugride 32, Infant Safe Seat-Step 1, Snugride 35, Tuetonia 35, and Snugride Click Connect 40.

If these infant seats are recalled, which is what NHTSA would like to see, another 1.7 million seats would be part of this recall making it the largest car seat recall in history.

According to Graco, the voluntary recall affects “harness buckles used on all toddler convertible car seats and harnessed booster seats manufactured from 2009 to July 2013.”

The issue: the red release button in the center of the harness, which according to NHTSA can become difficult to unlatch, or can become stuck. If the latch is stuck it can be difficult if not impossible to remove the child quickly in an emergency.

Graco explained that it found “that food and dried liquids can make some harness buckles progressively more difficult to open over time or become stuck in the latched position.”

What should you do if you have one of the recalled seats? Don’t panic. Graco is offering replacement harness buckles to affected customers at no cost. Call 800-345-4109 or email consumerservices@gracobaby.com to receive your replacement buckle.

In addition, if you have a Graco infant seat, not currently part of the recall, but are concerned with the harness buckle you can contact Graco for a replacement.

Most likely there will continue to be more news about this recall so stay tuned!