Consumer Safety Complaints

Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 deaths.

2,215,138 Total Complaints

138,663 Reported Crashes

56,255 Reported Fires

8,561 Reported Deaths

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim — NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.

The database below contains over 2,215,138 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports — when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.

How to interpret what you read

A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:

One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report — that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.

If you've experienced a defect

File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints — specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened — feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.

Read more from our blog

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 1,034 complaints for BRITAX

Incident date: Oct 8, 2009

REGARDING BRITAX DECATHLON CHILD RESTRANT RECALL NO. 07C-005, I INSTALLED THE "RECALL KIT," BUT THE STRAPS ARE STILL NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST. WHEN I CALLED BRITAX, THEY ONLY OFFERED TO SELL ME A NEW CAR SEAT FOR $125.00. *TR

Incident date: Apr 7, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BRITAX E9L57C0 BOULEVARD CHILD SEAT; MANUFACTURED ON 8/24/2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLEEPING, THE CHILD'S HEAD GOT WEDGED BETWEEN THE SIDE IMPACT WING OF THE SAFETY SEAT, AND THE SEAT IN THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY. SHE HAS POSSESSION OF THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

Incident date: Sep 15, 2009

WHEN I WAS CINCHING THE BELTS ON ONE CAR SEAT, ONE OF THE MALE LATCHES POPPED OUT. I TRIED IT AGAIN ON THE OTHERS AND WAS ABLE TO RECREATE IT AGAIN ON ANOTHER ONE IN JUST A FEW TRIES. *TR

Incident date: Sep 15, 2009

WHEN I WAS CINCHING THE BELTS ON ONE CAR SEAT, ONE OF THE MALE LATCHES POPPED OUT. I TRIED IT AGAIN ON THE OTHERS AND WAS ABLE TO RECREATE IT AGAIN ON ANOTHER ONE IN JUST A FEW TRIES. *TR

Incident date: Sep 4, 2009

ATTEMPTED TO FASTEN CHILD INTO CAR SEAT AND THE AREA WHERE THE CROTCH STRAP ATTACHES TO THE SEAT BROKE OFF. *TR

Incident date: Aug 19, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A BRITAX FRONTIER MODEL# E9B54H7 CHILD SEAT MANUFACTURER 6/2/09. THE CHILD WAS IN THE SEAT WHEN THE METAL YOKE BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE RIGHT HARNESS STRAP TO DISENGAGE FROM THE YOKE. CHILD WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND STATED THAT FELT AS THOUGH IT WERE COMING LOOSE FROM THE METAL YOKE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THEY REFUSED.

Incident date: Aug 1, 2009

I OWN A BRITAX BOULEVARD CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. MY CHILD WHO IS 2 CAN REACH THE LEVER TO LOOSEN THE SHOULDER STRAPS. HE PULLS ON IT WHILE MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN THE SEAT. HE DOES THIS WHILE I AM DRIVING AND IF THERE IS A CRASH HE COULD GET THROWN FROM THE SEAT CAUSING INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ONLINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE CHILD SHOULD NOT BE... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2009

MY TODDLER CAN NOW REACH THE LEVER THAT LOOSENS THE HARNESS STRAPS ON HER BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT. SHE CAN NOW LOOSEN THE STRAPS WHILE WE'RE DRIVING WHICH HAS CAUSED AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION. FORTUNATELY, SHE DOES NOT DO IT ALL OF THE TIME. HOWEVER, IF SHE HAD LOOSENED THE STRAPS AND WE WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT MY TODDLER WOULD NOT BE SECURE IN HER CAR SEAT. WE ARE USING OUR OTHER CAR SEAT AS M... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2009

23 MONTH OLD CHILD LOOSENING STRAPS FROM BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT. HE PULLS THE METAL STRAP UP AND PUSHES FORWARD WHICH LOOSENS STRAP. SCARED WE WILL GET IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE HAS DONE THIS. THERE IS ONLY A FLIMSY VELCRO COVER THAT HE CAN EASILY REACH. PULL UP AND GRAB THE METAL LATCH WHICH LOOSENS THE SHOULDER STRAP. *TR

Incident date: Jul 24, 2009

CALLED BRITAX FOR INFORMATION ON A SEAT FROM 2002, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO RECALLS AS THE SEAT WAS EXPIRED. A LOT OF PEOPLE USE EXPIRED SEATS DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. IF THIS SEAT HAS AN ISSUE THAT COULD BE CORRECTED, A CHILD WOULD BE SAFER WITH THIS SEAT THAN NO SEAT AT ALL! *TR

Incident date: Jul 2, 2009

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 21 MO OLD SON BEGAN CHOKING AND TURNING RED. I PULLED OVER, UNBUCKLED HIM QUICKLY. AFTER FINGERSWEEPING HIS MOUTH AND THROAT I PULLED OUT A BLACK, STICKY FOAM. AFTER HOLDING HIM AND CALMING DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES I NOTICED MORE FOAM IN THE CARSEAT AND ON THE FLOOR OF THE VAN. I BUCKLED HIM BACK IN HIS SEAT AND BEGAN COLLECTING THE FOAM TO THROW IT AWAY, THA... Read more

Incident date: Oct 16, 1973

MY COMPLAINT IS W/ THE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF COMMON SENSE---B/C OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS OF IDIOTS THAT AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, BUT ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS FOR THE "GOVERNMENT '!@#$%" TO TAKE CARE OF US---LEAVE US ALONE YOU MORONIC DING DONGS. *TR

Incident date: Oct 16, 1973

Incident date: Jun 6, 2009

I HAVE A 2007 BRITAX MARATHON,MY DAUGHTER IS NOW 2 YRS OLD AND CAN GET HERSELF OUT OF THE SEAT WITHIN 5 MINUTES FLAT.SHE CAN GET HER ARMS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE SEAT,THE STRAPS.OTHERWISE,THIS SEAT WOULD BE GREAT.THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGER FOR ALL CHILDREN RIDING THE BRITAX MARATHON.I WAS ON RT 9,FORKED RIVER WHEN I LOOKED AT MY CHILD AND SHE WAS NOW STANDING ON THE CARSEAT.NEEDLESS TO SAY,I PULLED... Read more

Incident date: Jun 9, 2009

BRITAX CHILD SEAT MARATHON MODEL ADJUSTMENT LATCH DESIGN DEFECT. 1. CHILD CAN REACH DOWN AND PULL UPWARDS ON ADJUSTMENT STRAP (BETWEEN LEGS) WHICH RELEASES ADJUSTMENT LATCH AND LOOSENS HARNESS. 2. WE HAVE NOTED TWICE AFTER TRAVELING THAT OUR SONS HARNESS WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE TO THE POINT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN EJECTED FROM THE CAR SEAT IF WE HAD BEEN IN AN IMPACT. 3. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 12, 2009

LATCH STRAP ROUTED AROUND LAP PORTION OF HARNESS STRAPS. LAP PORTION OF THE HARNESS WEBBING WAS THROUGH THE FIXED LOOP ON THE LATCH ATTACHMENT WEBBING. SEAT NEW OUT OF THE BOX. *TR

Incident date: May 14, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BRITAX CHILD SEAT, MODEL NUMBER E9L57D9. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 19, 2007. WHILE INSPECTING THE CHILD SEAT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HARNESS STRAPS FAILED FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. HIS CHILD IS THREE YEARS OLD AND WEIGHS BETWEEN 20-25 LBS. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SENT HIM A REPLACEMENT PART. T... Read more

Incident date: Apr 26, 2009

BUCKLE ON TETHER APPARATUS BROKE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I HAD TO UNINSTALL. THERE WAS NO TRAUMA OR MISUSE. THE PLASTIC JUST CRACKED.*TR

Incident date: Apr 21, 2009

SIX MONTHS AGO THE BUCKLE ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT BEGAN UNLATCHING A FEW TIMES A WEEK. I CALLED THE COMPANY AND DID EVERYTHING THEY SUGGESTED AND IT CONTINUED TO UNLATCH. THEY REPLACED THE BUCKLE PART OF THE HARNESS SYSTEM. THE NEW BUCKLE WORKED FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AND FOR THE PAST MONTH THE NEW ONE IS DOING THE SAME THING. IT COMES UNDONE A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK. I CONTACTED THE COMPANY... Read more

Incident date: Mar 24, 2009

I BOUGHT A BRITAX BOULEVARD A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR MY 12 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. I WAS DRIVING ON 3/24/09 AROUND 7AM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE STARTED SCREAMING. I THOUGHT SHE JUST WASN'T HAPPY THAT MORNING, BUT SHE WAS STILL SCREAMING FURIOUSLY ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES LATER WHEN WE PULLED UP TO HER PRESCHOOL. I WENT TO GET HER OUT OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT, I UNBUCKLED THE CROTCH BELT AND THEN CHEST CLIP, HER LEFT... Read more

1 injured

Incident date: Mar 16, 2009

TOOK CAR SEATS TO PACIFIC SAFETY COUNCIL TO CHECK PROPER INSTALLATION OF TWO CAR SEATS. TECHNICIAN FOUND GRANDDAUGHTERS SEAT (BASE) STUCK IN REAR FACING POSITION. WOULD NOT RETURN TO FORWARD FACING POSITION. TECHNICIAN HAD SEEN ISSUE BEFORE SO WE REMOVED BASE, RETURNED BAR TO PROPER POSITION AND ATTACHED CAR SEAT. THIS WAS DONE WITH MY ASSISTANCE. DID NOT WANT CHILD RETURNING HOME IN IMPROPER... Read more

Incident date: Mar 10, 2009

MY CAR SEAT FROM BRITAX IS HARD TO ADJUST FOR ITS HARNESS. *TR

Incident date: Oct 31, 2008

1. WE ARE AN INSTITUTION THAT PURCHASES LARGE AMOUNTS OF HIPPO CAR SEATS FROM SNUGSEAT. 2. ONE OF OUR RESTRAINTS FAILED TO ENGAGE IN THE LOCK MODE WHEN USING THE ANGLE ADJUSTER. THIS RESTRAINT WAS USED BY A PATIENT WITH A HIP SPICA CAST. 3. THE RESTRAINT WAS SENT TO SNUGSEAT, WHO SENT IT TO THE MANUFACTURER (BRITAX). IT WAS RETURNED TO US AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT. *TR

Incident date: Dec 29, 2008

Incident date: Feb 25, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A BRITAX E9L4790 (DECATHLON) CHILD SEAT. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON AUGUST 18, 2007. THE CONTACT WENT TO A CHILD SEAT INSPECTION STATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK IN AN UPRIGHT OR RECLINE POSITION. THE SEAT WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. THE CHILD SEAT IS A REARFACING CONVERTIBLE SEAT, BUT THE CONTACT NOW WANTS IT TO FACE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS I... Read more

Incident date: Nov 20, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS TWO BRITAX FRONTIER CHILD SEATS. THE SEATS WERE MANUFACTURED ON AUGUST 20, 2008. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08C010000 (CHILD SEAT: HARNESS). THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER NOT TO USE THE SEATS UNTIL THE RECALL REMEDY PARTS WERE RECEIVED. THE REMEDY PARTS FOR THE RECALLED CHILD SAFETY SEATS WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT STAY ON THE CH... Read more

Incident date: Dec 5, 2008

I WAS DRIVING IN MY CAR WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT BUCKLED INTO HIS BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT. AS I WAS DRIVING MY SON LIFTED THE FLAP THAT COVERS THE HARNESS ADJUSTER LEVER, PRESSED THE LEVER DOWN AND LEANED FORWARD TO LOOSEN HIS SAFETY STRAPS. AFTER LOOSENING THE STRAPS HE PROCEEDED TO PULL HIS ARMS OUT OF THE STRAPS. AT THIS POINT HIS UPPER BODY WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED, NO LONGER BEING C... Read more

Incident date: Mar 30, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BRITAX MARATHON CHILD SEAT, MODEL E9L06B9. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RETAINER POSITIONING CLIP ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE HARNESS SLIDES UP AND DOWN. AS A CONSEQUENCE, A CHILD IS ABLE TO MANIPULATE THE RETAINER CLIP IN A POSITION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CHILD TO MOVE HIS OR HER ARMS OR EXIT THE SEAT. THIS INCREASES THE ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 18, 2008

I JUST PURCHASED A BRITAX MARATHON CARSEAT FROM BABIES R US IN WAPPINGERS FALLS/POUGHKEEPSIE NY. WHEN I GOT THE SEAT HOME I OPENED THE BOX AND WAS GETTING READY TO SET IT UP TO FIT MY 6 MONTH OLD SON AND PUT IT IN MY CAR. IT IS AT THIS TIME THAT I NOTICED THE "LATCH" BELTS WERE MISSING. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS JUST THIS SEAT, I PLAN TO TAKE IT BACK TO GET ANOTHER ONE MONDAY, OR IF ALL THE ONES AT T... Read more

Incident date: Nov 26, 2008

1. MY HUSBAND BUCKLED OUR 4 YEAR OLD INTO HER BRITAX REGENT AND GAVE A LITTLE TUG ON THE HARNESS TO MAKE SURE IT WAS FASTENED SECURELY. 2. THE HIP PLATE CAME SWINGING OUT IN HIS HAND - THE HARNESS WAS BUCKLED BUT THE HIP PORTION OF THE HARNESS WAS COMPLETELY FREE OF THE SEAT. WE DISCONTINUED USE OF THE SEAT IMMEDIATELY SO IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. I CALLED BRITAX AND THEY ARE SENDING ME ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 16, 2008

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL NOTICE ON THE BRITAX FRONTIER CAR SEAT. IT IS IN REGARD TO THE RESTRAINING STRAPS. I SUGGEST THAT THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS SEAT. IT IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED AND AS A RESULT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY SECURE IT TO AN AUTO SEAT. IN FACT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SECURE FIT. I SUGGEST YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE BRITAX FRONTIER. IT ISN'T UP TO THE NOR... Read more

Incident date: Dec 15, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A BRITAX FRONTIER CHILD SEAT, MODEL E9L54H6. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON MAY 29, 2008. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE BRITAX SAFETY SEAT. THE REMEDY CONSISTED OF INFORMING THE CONSUMERS TO CHECK THE BACK OF THE YOKE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS SECURED IN PLACE. THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD NOT BE SHIPPED OUT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2009. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 2008

BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT - MY 2 YEAR OLD REGULARLY REACHES DOWN AND LOOSENS THE SHOULDER STRAPS JUST BY PULLING UP A METAL CLAMP. HE COMES COMPLETELY LOOSE TO THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO COME OUT OF THE CAR SEAT. *TR

Incident date: Oct 26, 2008

RECLINING HANDLE BROKE OFF ON BRITAX ROUNDABOUT. THE CAR SEAT WAS MOSTLY STATIONARY IN THE CAR OVER LAST 6 MONTHS, BUT MAYBE SECOND TIME WE MOVED IT BETWEEN THE CARS THE RECLINING HANDLE DISLODGED AND IT CAN ONLY LOCK SAFELY IN THE LEAST VERTICAL POSITION. IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME IF THE CAR SEAT IS STILL SAFE TO USE FORWARD FACING AS THIS LEVEL OF RECLINE IS ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR BACKWARD FACING POSI... Read more

Incident date: Oct 24, 2008

WEBBING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY THROUGH ADJUSTOR ON LATCH ON BOTH SIDES, WEBBING INSTALLED TWISTED MAKING ADJUSTMENT OF LATCH DIFFICULT (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2004, MAKE=VOLKSWAGEN, MODEL=PASSAT). *TR

Incident date: Aug 16, 2008

MY 19 MONTH OLD BAY CAN UNCLIP HER CHILD SEAT RESTRAINT IN THE CAR SEAT WHICH HAS APPERANTLY MET THE CRITIERA TO THE MINIMUM STANDARDS IN THRE TEST. *TR

Incident date: Aug 30, 2008

WHILE LOOSENING THE 5-POINT HARNESS STRAPS ON OUR BRITAX FRONTIER CHILD RESTRAINT (A FORWARD FACING, HARNESSED COMBINATION SEAT), THE SHOULDER STRAP FOR THE CHILD'S LEFT SHOULDER CAME OFF THE HARNESS SPLITTER PLATE WHEN THE LEFT SIDE WAS TUGGED TO LOOSEN THE STRAPS. THIS WAS WHILE THE CHILD RESTRAINT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE VEHICLE SEATBELT USING THE LONG BELT PATH INSTALLATION METHOD IN OUR 2005 T... Read more

Incident date: Sep 3, 2008

THE ISSUE IS A POSSIBLE DESIGN COMPATIBILITY WITH A LATCH ANCHOR SYSTEM AND MY RECENTLY PURCHASED ACURA 08 MDX. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=ACURA, MODEL=MDX) *TR

Incident date: Aug 31, 2008

BRITAX FRONTIER MANUFACTURE DATE 06/13/2008 AT THE USA BABY/CHILD SPACE STORE IN CARY, NC. I INSTALLED THE FRONTIER INTO MY VEHICLE AND LOOSENED AND TIGHTENED THE HARNESS STRAPS ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES BY PULLING A SINGLE STRAP (RIGHT STRAP AS YOU LOOK AT THE SEAT). WHEN I UNINSTALLED THE FRONTIER FROM MY HONDA ODYSSEY, THE LEFT STRAP (AS YOU LOOK AT THE SEAT) HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF THE SPLITTER PL... Read more

Incident date: Sep 2, 2008

THE BRITAX FRONTIER SPLITTER PLATE ALLOWS THE HARNESS TO SLIP OFF WHEN REPEATEDLY LOOSENING AND TIGHTENING THE HARNESS TO ITS BIGGEST CAPACITY WHEN TUGGING ON ONE OF THE SHOULDER STRAPS. I HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE CAR-SEAT.ORG FORUMS AND WENT TO GET MY SEAT TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I PULLED ON THE RIGHT STRAP (THE CHILD'S LEFT SHOULDER STRAP) AS FAR AS IT WOULD LOOSEN, THEN TIGHTENED AS ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BRITAX BOULEVARD CHILD SEAT, MODEL NUMBER E9L57C0. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 8, 2007. THE CONTACT'S CHILD IS ABLE TO PULL THE LEVER THAT HOLDS THE STRAPS, WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO SECURE THE CHILD, SO FAR THAT HE CAN RELEASE HIMSELF FROM THE CHILD SEAT. THE SEAT WAS INSTALLED BY A CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN USING THE SEAT BELT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHILD WAS NOT INJUR... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2008

I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BRITAX WIZARD & MARATHON CARSEATS. THE BUCKLE IS VERY EASY FOR A TODDLER TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE RESTRAINT VERY LOOSE AND THEREFORE A DANGER TO HIS SAFETY. THIS DESIGN IS A FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IMMEDIATELY! *TR

Incident date: Jul 30, 2008

I AM AN EXPERIENCED CPST IN BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA. ON 7-30-08 I ASSISTED A MOTHER WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW BRITAX MARATHON (CAMO PATTERN COVER) USING THE LATCH SYSTEM. MOTHER INDICATED SHE HAD JUST RECEIVED THE SEAT AND IT HAD BEEN BACK-ORDERED FOR SOME TIME. WHEN I PULLED BACK THE SEAT COVER TO ACCESS THE STORED LATCH ATTACHMENTS....I NOTED THAT THE ATTACHMENTS WERE STORED IN A MANNER THA... Read more

Incident date: Jul 31, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A BRITAX MARATHON E9L0636 CHILD SEAT. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 13, 2003. THE CHILD SEAT HAD A VELCRO FLAP SO THE CONTACT COULD REACH THE ADJUSTMENT STRAP. THE VELCRO FLAP IS SO HIGH THAT HER CHILD CAN REACH THE FLAP AND LOOSEN THE ADJUSTMENT STRAP WHILE IN THE SEAT. THIS ALLOWS THE CHILD TO POSSIBLY REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE CHILD SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 20, 2008

MY TWO-YEAR OLD CAN LOOSE THE HARNESS STRAPS ON HIS BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT. HE DOES THIS REGULARLY AND WE ARE NOW LOOKING INTO ANOTHER CAR SEAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND HIGHEST RATED CAR SEAT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. *TR

Incident date: Jul 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BRITAX COMPANION E9L8069 REARFACING INFANT SEAT. THE CHILD SEAT HAS A PLASTIC STRIP THAT IS USED AS A HARNESS. ONE SIDE OF THE STRIP IS SUPPOSED TO CATCH ONTO ANOTHER CLIP TO SECURE THE CHILD. THE STRIP DOES NOT FULLY ATTACH TO THE CORRECT CLIP, AND THE CHILD IS ABLE TO PULL THE STRIP COMPLETELY OFF. AS A RESULT, THE CHILD IS NOT SAFELY SECURED IN THE SEAT. SHE CALL... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2008

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 WOR... Read more

Incident date: Jul 21, 2008

THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT ON THIS SEAT. IT HAS BEEN RECALLED ONCE ALREADY. THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE SPLITTER PLATE AND GOES THROUGH THE A-LOK ADJUSTER TO TIGHTEN THE HARNESS HAS FRAYED SIGNIFICANTLY IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS IS THE THICKER STRAP THAT BRITAX PROVIDED AS PART OF THE FIRST RECALL ON THIS SEAT. I AM WORRIED THAT THE STRAP MAY FAIL IN A CRASH, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT M... Read more

Incident date: Jul 11, 2008

THIS IS THE SECOND BRITAX FRONTIER SEAT WE HAVE OWNED. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HARNESS STRAP FAILED, JUST LIKE THE FIRST SEAT. WHILE DRIVING WITH MY SON IN THE SAFETY SEAT, THE LEFT HARNESS STRAP COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE YOKE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES THE MORNING OF THE 11TH OF JULY. BRITAX CONTINUES TO DENY THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THIS SEAT. HOW MANY FAILURES, INJURIES, OR DEAT... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2008

WHEN CHECKING THAT THE HARNESS WAS FASTENED INTO THE BUCKLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT PULLING ON THE HARNESS AT THE BASE NEAR THE BUCKLE SOMETIMES CAUSED IT TO DETACH FROM THE BUCKLE ON ONE SIDE. ADDITIONALLY, A "CLICK" SOUND WAS NOT ALWAYS NOTED WHEN FASTENING THE HARNESS AND BUCKLE. THIS EVENT WAS REPEATABLE ON MOST OCCASIONS. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO FIRST RECOMMENDE... Read more

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What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

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