Graco is recalling about 3.8 million car seats. There were over 80 complaints of children becoming trapped by the buckles that wouldn't unlatch, especially when sticky food and liquids were spilled on the buckles. Some parents had to resort to cutting the straps to get the child out. This poses serious risk if there is an accident, car fire or other emergency situation.

The recall covers 11 models made from 2009 through 2013 by Graco Children's Products Inc. of Atlanta. It's the fourth-largest child seat recall in U.S. history, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government's road safety watchdog.

 

NHTSA also criticized Graco in a sternly-worded letter dated Tuesday, saying the recall excludes seven infant car seat models with the same buckles. Both the company and NHTSA have received complaints about stuck buckles on the infant seats, the agency said.

Though Graco isn't recalling infant back-facing car seats, you can still receive new buckles for them from the company. I used the Graco infant backward-facing car seat that used these buckles and even though it never had issues with getting stuck, the buckles were very hard to get open. You'd almost break a finger trying to get them undone. Since then, I've switched to Britax which is not only one of the safest car seats on the market but much easier to operate and open.

 

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