Evenflo is recalling over 1 million car seats manufactured between 2011 and 2014. The affected seats use a buckle that, over time, can become difficult to unlatch, which could potentially cause a problem during an emergency. The belt buckles are safe until “contaminants” such as food or drink are spilled on the buckle. Most toddlers eat and drink in their seats and the cumulative effect of spilled food and drink can cause the buckle to “become resistant to unlatching over time.”
Evenflo is offering replacement buckles with an improved design, along with instructions for installation, free of charge. Consumers who own an affected car seat can order a remedy kit by using this form on Evenflo’s website or by calling 1-800-490-7591 . Car seats should not be returned to retailers, because only the buckles are affected by the recall.
While consumers wait for their buckle to arrive by mail, they can clean the original buckle by following the directions on Evenflo’s website. Evenflo has also provided videos showing how to replace the belt once the remedy kit arrives.
1.4 million convertible car seats and harnessed booster seats are affected by the Evenflo recall:
- Momentum 65, Momentum 65 LX and Momentum 65 DLX
- Chase, Chase LX and Chase Select
- Chase LX and Chase DLX
- Maestro and Maestro Performance
- Symphony 65, Symphony 65 E3, Symphony LX, Symphony DLX and Snugli All-in-One
- Titan 65 and SureRide DLX
- Secure Kid LX, Secure Kid DLX, Secure Kid 100, Secure Kid 300, Secure Kid 400 and Snugli Booster
Check the Evenflo recall announcement for more details on manufacture dates and model numbers.
The company stresses that it has not received any reports of injury related to the buckles, and that if the original buckle is functioning normally, then the car seats still meet all federal safety standards. Also, car seats that do not fall in the manufacture dates windows are not affected.
Graco car seats suffered a similar recall earlier this year for a buckle after the company received 80 reports of buckles requiring excessive force to unlatch. Graco offered replacement car seat buckles as well. Both car seat companies were using the same buckle on various models.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration first noticed the problem and began its investigation of the Graco car seats in 2010. Both companies are working with the NHTS regarding the recalls. Evenflo’s recall announcement came Friday in a PDF that gives an extensive back story of their decision and the performance of their product.
Evenflo has only received 12 complaints about the buckle since they began using the affected buckle in August 2011.
