Defect Investigation Detail
BRITAX / E9L30 (HUSKY) / 9999
| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Action Number: PE03045 | Vehicale/Equipment Name: BRITAX |
| Vehicale/Equipment Model: E9L30 (HUSKY) | Vehicale/Equipment Year: 9999 |
| Component Name: CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP | Manufacturer's Name: Britax Child Safety, Inc. |
| Date Opened: Oct, 01 2003 | Date Closed: Jan, 08 2004 |
| Subject: LATCH CONNECTOR FAILURE | Summary: This investigation was opened on october 1, 2003 based on a single report on a roundabout child seat from a child passenger safety technician.the report indicated that one of the two lower latch connectors (connector) on the seat easily released as it was pulled to check if it was properly attached to the vehicle lower latch anchor.new vehicles (cars, minivans, and light trucks) manufactured on or after september 1, 2002 are required to have anchor points between the seat back and the seat cushion in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (except convertibles).child safety seats manufactured on or after september 1, 2002 are required to have a lower set of connectors that attach to the vehicle anchors.forward facing child seats will also have a top tether strap that attaches to the top tether anchor.together they make up the "lower anchors and tethers for children" (latch) system.the latch connector is made by indiana mills and manufacturing, inc. (immi) and supplied to britax and four other child seat manufacturers (peg perego, dorel juvenile group (cosco), team tex, and xportation safety concepts, inc.)in its november 13, 2003 response, britax stated that it had received one consumer report where one of the connectors would not attach to the anchor.information provided by immi indicates that they are not aware of any other reports from consumers or the other child seat manufactures.a search of the odi database for additional reports on britax and the other manufactures revealed no other reports of connector problems.based on a review of the available data and the number of reports, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no-safety related defect exists.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. |