After giving in to pressure from U.S. safety regulators, Graco has expanded their recall to include an additional 1.9 million infant car seats. In total, the manufacturer has recalled 6.2 million toddler seats, but continues to deny the seats are unsafe. The buckles of the car seats can get jammed by food or drinks, which could make it difficult for a parent to remove their child. In some cases, parents have had to cut the harnesses to get their kids out of the seat. This problem can be especially dangerous in the aftermath of a car accident.

When Graco initially announced the recall in February 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent the company a letter inquiring why some infant seats were not included in the recall. According the NHTSA, parents had made complaints with the agency about the jammed buckles on certain infant seats.

Graco initially said that the rear-facing infant seats were not being recalled because there was no indication that infants were getting food or drinks on their seats. However, Graco did agree to send replacement buckles to owners of infant seats upon request. By June, Graco had sent a letter to the NHTSA saying that further investigations into the matter showed a higher than typical level of difficulty in unlatching the buckles.

According to Graco, no injuries have been reported as a result of the problem. The models covered by the most recent recall include:

  • SnugRide
  • SnugRide
  • Classic Connect (including Classic Connect 30 and 35)
  • SnugRide 30
  • SnugRide 35
  • SnugRide Click Connect 40
  • Aprica A30

Graco intends to replace the buckles for free and will be offering to send free replacement buckles to any consumer who requests one, even those whose seats have not been recalled. Have you or someone you know been injured due to a defective product? Did you know you may be entitled to file a claim for compensation? Contact the personal injury lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan for a free review of your defective product claim.