Graco Children's Products Inc. has made the fourth-largest recall of car seats ever issued, voluntarily recalling almost 3.8 million car seats due to problems with the latch, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this Tuesday. The harnesses are said to have sometimes failed to unbuckle properly, posing the risk of trapping kids in the seats. The NHTSA has said that this could jeopardize kids' safety if they are ever in a car accident or in any other emergency that would require their being able to get out of the car fast. Graco announced that with the recalled models, "food and dried liquids can make some harness buckles progressively more difficult to open over time or become stuck in the latched position".

Apparently then, some crumbs or leftover juice on the latch could make it extremely hard to unbuckle a child from his or her seat, an issue that could cause serious problems in the event of an emergency. The company is offering free harness buckles to replace the potentially defective ones. The company emphasized that this issue does not affect the seat's ability to restrain kids if they are in a car accident. It is said that using the Graco car seat or finding a replacement seat is still recommended.

Car Seat Models that Were Recalled

According to Reuters, Graco has recalled the following toddler seat models, which were made between 2009 and 2013: Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50, My Ride 65, My Ride with Safety Surround, My Ride 70, Size 4 Me 70, Smartseat, Nautilus, Nautilus Elite, and the Argos 70. These car seat models represent 11 of the 18 models that Graco had been asked by the NHTSA to recall. If Graco ends up recalling the other seven models that it was asked to, this division of Newell Rubbermaid would officially be making the largest ever recall for car seats.

Models Not Subject to Recall, Despite NHTSA Request

CNN reported that the following infant seat models have not been recalled, but that Graco had been asked to do so: Snugride, Snugride 30, Snugride 32, Infant Safe Seat-Step 1, Snugride 35, Tuetonia 35, and Snugride Click Connect 40. Graco has said that free harness buckle replacements will be provided to customers who ask for one, however.

Reportedly, no injuries have been caused by this potential defect as of yet. But a product defect can easily cause serious injuries, sometimes in accidents that force a recall. If you or a loved one have been injured by a defective product, by anything from a hazardous drug to a malfunctioning auto part, you may be owed compensation. Learn if you have a case when you contact an experienced personal injury lawyer from our directory today!