Evenflo Buckle Recall: Convertible and Combination Harnessed/Booster Seats

Recalled “QT” Buckle

After the recent Graco recall of the same AmSafe “QT” buckle, we figured it was only a matter of time until Evenflo recalled their convertible and combination seats with the same buckle. That recall will be officially announced by NHTSA sometime later today. The good news is that Evenflo already stopped using those QT buckles so most Evenflo products with a recent DOM (Date of Manufacture) shouldn’t be affected by this recall.

Evenflo carseats NOT affected by this recall include Tribute, Triumph and Titan 50. Evenflo infant seats are also not included in this recall.

NHTSA finally announced the recall and stated that Evenflo is voluntarily recalling more than 1.3 million carseats for buckles that could increase the risk of injury if the child could not be removed quickly in an emergency. “The buckle may become stuck in a latched position, making it difficult to remove a child from the seat. This could prove critical to a child’s safety in the case of an emergency.”

What you need to know if you have a recalled model:

The “fix” for the recall is a different buckle. Registered owners will receive a letter notifying them that their seat is affected and directing them to call customer service (aka ParentLink) or visit www.buckle.evenflo.com to order the replacement buckle. If you already know you have a recalled model CLICK ON THIS LINK to order your replacement buckle(s). You will need the model number and Date of Manufacturer (DOM) of your seat.

The model number and DOM can be found on a white sticker. If your carseat is installed you will have to uninstall it to find the white sticker – it is usually on the back or the bottom of the shell. Your sticker probably looks something like this:

Official Buckle Recall Information from Evenflo (including contact info, buckle cleaning tips, buckle replacement instructions and videos) can be found here:  www.buckle.evenflo.com

Statement from Evenflo:

Dear Safety Advocates:

Thank you for being a trusted partner and helping Evenflo keep children safe!  As you know, we have a 90 year history of putting safety and consumers above everything else and appreciate your partnership in doing this.

On Friday, April 4^th, Evenflo will announce a voluntary recall of select convertible car seats and harnessed booster seats due to an issue in the harnessed crotch buckle.  The buckles meet all requirements for crashworthiness, but may become resistant to unlatching over time due to contaminants (like food and drink) that are present in everyday use by toddlers.  Evenflo is taking this proactive, preventive action to address an issue that was recently observed by NHTSA.

Our goal is to make this experience as easy for the consumer as possible and we will be sending replacement buckles to consumers and developing videos to show them how to install the new buckle.   While consumers wait for their buckles, we are recommending that they clean the buckles thoroughly, as instructed on the back of the buckle, if they are experiencing any issues.  All relevant information can be found at www.buckle.evenflo.com

Evenflo has worked to put the needs of our consumers first and hope that we can count on your support as we work through this issue and continue to strive for excellence as we build our products for the future.

FYI – Only the “QT” buckle (pictured above) is recalled. The buckles pictured below are NOT included in this recall so if your Evenflo convertible or combination harness/booster seat has a buckle that looks like either of these – don’t worry about it, it’s fine.

Evenflo Buckle – NOT Recalled

Evenflo Buckle – NOT Recalled