Britax ClickTight Car Seat Recall Issued Due to Failure to Secure Child

More than 213,000 Britax ClickTight child seats have been recalled after the manufacturer received reports of problems that suggest the harness may not completely fasten in the latch, potentially failing to properly secure the child and resulting in a risk of ejection in an accident. 

The Britax car seat recall was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on August 11, after an internal investigation determined the harness buckles were improperly manufactured and may allow the harness to loosen after being tightened.

Although no injuries have been reported, the NHTSA is advising consumers to stop using the recalled child seats immediately due to the potential life-threatening risks children could be exposed to in a collision.

In July, Britax became aware of a consumer complaint on its Facebook page, indicating they had experienced loose harness straps due to the locking mechanism failing. This prompted Britax to investigate the complaint, which also led to the finding of four additional complaints submitted to the NHTSA. In total, at least 18 consumer complaints have been submitted since the beginning of production in August 2014.

Britax opened an internal investigation to attempt to replicate the consumers’ complaints and recognized that some of its inventory had not been manufactured to size, allowing the locking mechanism to come loose.

The recall includes an estimated 213,753 Britax Advocate ClickTight, Boulevard ClickTight, and Marathon ClickTight models manufactured from August 1, 2014 through July 29, 2015. The recalled models include the Advocate ClickTight child seat with model numbers E9LT95Q, E9LT95Z, E9LT95N, and E1A025Q, Boulevard ClickTight child seats with model numbers E9LT86F, E1A135Q, E9LT86G, E9LT85Q, E9LT86A, E9LT86H, E9LT85S, E1A015Q, E1A016A, and E1A016H, and Marathon ClickTight child seats with model numbers E1A116L, E9LT76P, E9LT71Q, E9LT76N, E9LT76B, E9LT75R, E9LT76L, E1A006B, E1A005R and EXA116L.

The recalled models have a red harness adjuster button that latches to two over the shoulder straps to secure the child in the seat. The red quick release button may become stuck, in a non-locked position but appear to be fastened securely.

The child seats were manufactured by Britax Child Safety Inc. of Fort Mill, South Carolina where they were distributed for sale throughout the United States and Canada.

Britax announced the company will begin notifying registered owners and supplying them with a remedy kit that includes a lubricant to apply to the harness adjuster button free of charge. The company stated that after this one-time application of the lubricant, the adjuster button will function normally, move freely inside the finger guide, and will not remain down in the “release” position after the harness is tightened. Owners with further questions may contact Britax customer service at 1-888-427-4829 or visit them online at www.britaxclicktightconvertiblerecall.com.