Recaro Car Seat Recall Issued Due to Tether Detachment Risk

Almost 175,000 Recaro child car seats may have a serious safety defect, where the restraint tether breaks in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of serious injury for children and other occupants of the vehicle.

A Recaro child car seat recall (PDF) was announced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on September 15, after product quality tests at the agency found that the top tether anchorage may break loose from the main shell of the seat.

Although no reports or injuries have been received, the recalled car seats may pose a serious and potentially life-threatening injury hazard to children who may not remain restrained in the car seat in the event of an accident. The NHTSA stated during their field safety tests, there were indications that the top tether anchorage, which acts as a main support, could detach from the child restraint.

According to the NHTSA, the recalled child seat restraints fail to conform to the requirements set forth in the “Child Restraint Section” of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

The Recaro child car seat recall includes 173,063 ProRIDE car seats with model number 332.01 and Performace RIDE child car seats with model number 333.01. The ProRIDE seats were manufactured from April 9, 2010 through June 9, 2015, and were sold with color codes AK21, KAEC, KAEG, KK91, MC11, MJ15, QA56, QA9N, QQ11, QQ14, and QQ95. The Performance RIDE models were manufactured from January 15, 2013 through June 9, 2015, and were sold with color codes CHIL, HABB, HAZE, JEBB, JETT, KNGT, MABB, MARI, MNGT, PLUM, PLBB, REBB, SLBB, REDD, ROBB, ROSE, SABB, SAPH, SLTE, VIBB, VIBE.

The NHTSA anticipates that Recaro to begin notifying its customer this month and sending all registered owners a length of webbing with loops on both ends and instructions to further secure the child restraints. The repair kit will be provided and mailed free of charge to the consumer. Customers with further questions may contact Recaro Customer Service at 1-866-628-4750 or by email at recarorecall@m-s-s.com.