HARNESS ADJUSTER MALFUNCTION

What NHTSA is examining

The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation on january 6, 2005, based on complaints gathered under investigation rq04-008.complainants alleged loosening of the restraint harness on britax super elite child seats.odi discovered that the seats reviewed under the rq were found to have malfunctioning adjuster mechanisms. The adjusters would not lock into position and hold the child restraint harness adjustment setting.britax reported that the cause of the adjuster malfunction was jamming of the adjuster strap between the adjuster housing and the adjuster cam.this would cause the adjuster cam spring to pop out of position.this condition will lead to an adjuster cam that will stick in the open position and not lock the adjuster strap. To correct this condition, britax will conduct a safety recall (nhtsa recall 05c004) and provide to owners an adjuster strap guide that will reduce the potential for movement of the adjuster strap into the area between the adjuster cam and housing.the anticipated release date of the guide is july 20, 2005.the recall population is 11,439 super elite child seats (model number e9031) built from april 2001 through august 2002.

Vehicles under investigation