CPSC Announces Car Seat Recall Over Anchoring Failures and Ejection Risks

The car seat recall warns the lower seat anchor may fail, putting children in the seat at risk of ejection from the vehicle.

Federal highway safety officials have announced a recall of nearly 60,000 Safety 1^st and Maxi-Cosi infant car seats, warning that the anchor used to secure the base of the car seats may fail to properly restrain the child, posing a serious risk of injury or ejection in an auto accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Safety 1st and Maxi-Cosi car seat recall on March 8, after they were found to be noncompliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements, indicating that the lower seat anchor used to secure the infant car seat may fail, allowing the seat to detach.

The recall involves approximately 59,450 infant car seats manufactured by Dorel Juvenile Group, and sold under the following brand names with corresponding colors or fabric patterns:

• MAXI-COSI/CORAL XP
• MAXI-COSI/INFANT BASE
• MAXI-COSI/MICO LUXE+
• MAXI-COSI/MICO XP
• MAXI-COSI/MICO XP MAX
• SAFETY 1ST/ONBOARD 35 SECURETECH

According to the recall notice, the car seats are in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 213, which regulates child restraint systems for those weighing up to 80 pounds. The standard includes requirements for restraint crashworthiness, labeling and instructions, flammability, and buckle and release pressure.

Dorel Juvenile Group advised that until a remedy of the lower seat anchor failure has been found, consumers should secure the car seat with only the vehicle belt restraint system. A free replacement base will be mailed to owners of the recalled infant car seats, and notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 7, 2023.

For additional information, owners may contact Dorel customer service at 1-877-416-8111, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.