Combi Car Seat Recall Issued Due to Harness Problems

More than 33,000 child car seats have been recalled, after product testing suggested a particular harness restraint did not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, potentially putting infants and toddlers at risk of injury during an automobile accident.

The Combi child seat recall (PDF) was announced on January 3, after a safety inspection by government officials that indicated the seats do not meet minimum strength requirements. To date, no injuries or have been reported.

The affected Combi car sear restraints failed the federal safety inspection test due to a plastic button that is designed to keep the buckle tongues from sliding into the recesses. This resulted in the harness not meeting the minimum strength requirements, suggesting that they mail fail to secure the child in the car seat during a crash. The testing indicated that when the product was tested as an entire unit it passed, but when individually testing the affected button it was faulty.

The recall includes the following Combi child restraint models, model numbers, and manufactured dates; Combi Coccoro child restraint with model number 8220 manufactured between January 6, 2009 and December 5, 2012, Combi Zeus Turn child restraint with model number 8815 manufactured between July 15, 2007 and March 25, 2009, and Combi Zeus 360 child restraint with model number 8836 manufactured between February 25, 2009 and May 24, 2012.

The affected car seats were sold under the brand name Combi USA Inc., at various juvenile product stores and online from January 2009 through December 5, 2012. Customers should check their car seats to confirm if the products are part of the recall by locating the white label underneath the seats.

A spokeswoman from Combi USA announced that the company plans to provide owners with a free remedy kit to registered owners sometime in February 2014. Customers are encouraged to continue using the recalled car seats until the remedy kit is received. Customer may contact Combi USA at 800-543-7734 or visit them online at combiusa.com for further questions.