Britax is recalling certain Chaperone infant seats due to chest clips that may break when in use. Britax received complaints that the clips were breaking when being closed. There is a risk of skin laceration and/or a choking hazard. All Chaperone seats made between April 2009 and May 2010 are included in the recall campaign. This includes Canadian models. Model numbers include: E9L69N9 (Moonstone), E9L69P2 (Red Mill), E9L69P3 (Savannah), E9L69P5 (Cowmooflage). Britax is prepared to make replacement chest clips kits available to consumers and retailers soon. For more information, see the Britax USA advisory notice.
Update 10/30/2010: Here is the NHTSA recall notice. Replacement chest clip kits should be mailed beginning November 11th, 2010. Britax will also notify Transport Canada as the Chaperone Infant Car Seat was also sold in Canada.
@Dana, which recall are you referring to–the most recent one about the harness adjuster or the chest clip? If it’s about the chest clip and yours breaks, just remove it from the harness and continue using the seat until you can get a new clip. Make sure the harness is very snug. If it’s the harness adjuster and yours hasn’t broken, don’t worry. It may or may not break, but if it isn’t broken, it’s still perfectly safe! Have you called their CS line? I’m curious to know what they’ve said to you. You could also try Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Britax .
I have contacted Britax over FIVE times to have new parts sent. They haven’t responded or sent the parts. I’m a bit distraught. Is there another way to get ahold of them?
Erin, is yours part of the recall? And I’m a bit confused when you say “one of the entire clips broke”–what do you mean by that?
Mine broke a month ago……a few days ago, one of the entire clips broke.
The chest clip in question was produced by a supplier to the manufacturer in China (Lerado) that assembles the Chaperone. Chest clips in models made after May, 2010, were supplied using a different material. Infant seats from most brands today all seem to be outsourced for manufacturing to companies in China. As we have seen from recalls on toys and other childrens products, it seems that it is more difficult to deal with supplier quality issues when there are layers of companies contracted to do assembly in Asia, where laws and regulations are far more lax in some countries than in North America and Western Europe. Though this recall may be a relatively minor issue, in my opinion, I do hope the next one won’t be more serious. I do commend Britax for assembling all their convertible and combination models in the USA with primary components like the harness systems supplied by respectable domestic vendors like IMMI (The Chaperone uses an IMMI sourced harness system, too, but the chest clip is not supplied by IMMI). A quality problem that affects a primary safety item like a carseat is of a much larger concern than one with other types of products like consumer electronics, for example. Last year’s recall of the Mia Moda Viva product line apparently involved the same assembly company, though not necessarily the same third party supplier of the chest clip. I think this underscores the potential for future issues and is why I try to mention the manufacturing location in my past reviews.
It should be noted that chest clips are not a primary safety component of a child safety seat. In fact, they are not even required in Europe. Their purpose is to help keep the harness straps positioned corrected over the shoulders. If the harness is otherwise tightened correctly, a brittle chest clip is not likely to be an issue as far as crash safety, outside of the potential issues mentioned in the recall. So, as noted in the recall, the Chaperone can continue to be used until a replacement is installed.
Hmmm… I bought a replacement chaperone chest clip during that time period. I’m guessing it would be subject to the recall as well. I wonder if they’ll replace the replacement.