LATCH CONNECTOR FAILURE

What NHTSA is examining

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…

Vehicles under investigation