Dorel Child Seats Recalled, 800,000 Affected

For the second time in less than two years, one of the biggest child seat manufacturers in the US, Dorel Juvenile Group, falls victim to some poorly constructed products. After in the end of 2009 Dorel announced a recall for the products it made for one and a half years, this week the company says it is recalling no less than 800,000 child seats.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall includes booster, convertible and infant seats. The NHTSA has found them to be prone to front harness loosening. This means that, in the event of a crash, the child may not be protected as they should.

The products affected have been manufactured in between May 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009. So far, the NHTSA says it has received “several complaints” of the seat harness loosening, while Dorel received 143 complaints.

On its side, the company says it has agreed to the recall asked by the NHTSA, even if it considers that the findings of the safety watchdog do not point to a safety issue, but rather a performance issue.

“There have been no reports of center front adjuster failure in real world crashes, no injuries and no deaths reported to the company,” Dorel said in a statement cited by The New York Times.

Additional information about the seat models affected by the recall can be found at the following link. The fix chosen for the problem is a free remedy kit consisting of a non-toxic lubricant which is to be applied to the center front adjuster.