NHTSA Announces Safety Recall of Britax Child Safety Restraints

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced a safety recall of Britax Child Safety, Inc., convertible child restraints.

The recall involves 4,959 Advantage convertible child restraints, Model E9022, with production dates from March 5 to July 26, 2001. The date of manufacture is located on the label on the side of the restraint.

According to NHTSA, the tether brackets installed during the affected period may allow one of the tether attachments to separate from the seat shell in a vehicle crash. Separation of one of the tether brackets from the seat shell could allow increased head movement. These seats do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, ``Child Restraint Systems.''

Britax will mail free metal ring kits and repair instructions to registered customers. Customers can also contact Britax at 1-888-4BRITAX (1-888-427-4829), using prompt #2 to request a free repair kit.

NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeff Runge said that consumers should continue using the seats and urged them to make the repair promptly after receiving the metal ring kits from Britax.

For more information, owners may call or write to Britax Child Safety, Inc., 13501 South Ridge Drive, NC 28273.

Consumers with questions about this or any other safety recall campaign should call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236.