LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Combi USA, Inc. To Conduct A Safety Recall For "Avatar" Child Safety Seats
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on July 8, 2005 that Combi USA, Inc. will conduct a safety recall for its "Avatar Model 8100" child safety seats. The recall involves the entire production of this model from November 2003 through May 2004. It was not stated what total units are involved in the recall. It is allegedly in the thousands.
As part of a new system for child seat installation, newly manufactured child safety seats must include attachments that fasten to permanent anchors in a vehicle's back seat, located where the cushions meet. This system is known as "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). In the case of the Avatar seats being recalled, the lower attachment straps fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213 for child restraint systems. If the child seat is attached using the LATCH system and a crash occurs, the attachment straps could detach from the vehicle's lower anchorsâ"possibly resulting in a serious or even fatal injury to the child.
As part of a new system for child seat installation, newly manufactured child safety seats must include attachments that fasten to permanent anchors in a vehicle's back seat, located where the cushions meet. This system is known as "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). In the case of the Avatar seats being recalled, the lower attachment straps fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213 for child restraint systems. If the child seat is attached using the LATCH system and a crash occurs, the attachment straps could detach from the vehicle's lower anchorsâ"possibly resulting in a serious or even fatal injury to the child.
To date no injuries have been reported. However, due to the popularity of the LATCH system as opposed to using safety belts to anchor child safety seats in newer model cars, based on the perceived enhancement of safety implied by the LATCH system, this is an important warning for owners of this model child safety seat.
Registered owners of these child safety seats will automatically receive a repair kit along with repair instructions in the mail. Those not registered need to request the kit from the manufacturer. Until the latch belt assembly is replaced, Combi USA advises owners to use the seat only with the vehicle's safety belts and not with the LATCH system.
As part of a new system for child seat installation, newly manufactured child safety seats must include attachments that fasten to permanent anchors in a vehicle's back seat, located where the cushions meet. This system is known as "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). In the case of the Avatar seats being recalled, the lower attachment straps fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213 for child restraint systems. If the child seat is attached using the LATCH system and a crash occurs, the attachment straps could detach from the vehicle's lower anchorsâ"possibly resulting in a serious or even fatal injury to the child.
As part of a new system for child seat installation, newly manufactured child safety seats must include attachments that fasten to permanent anchors in a vehicle's back seat, located where the cushions meet. This system is known as "LATCH" (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). In the case of the Avatar seats being recalled, the lower attachment straps fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213 for child restraint systems. If the child seat is attached using the LATCH system and a crash occurs, the attachment straps could detach from the vehicle's lower anchorsâ"possibly resulting in a serious or even fatal injury to the child.
To date no injuries have been reported. However, due to the popularity of the LATCH system as opposed to using safety belts to anchor child safety seats in newer model cars, based on the perceived enhancement of safety implied by the LATCH system, this is an important warning for owners of this model child safety seat.
Registered owners of these child safety seats will automatically receive a repair kit along with repair instructions in the mail. Those not registered need to request the kit from the manufacturer. Until the latch belt assembly is replaced, Combi USA advises owners to use the seat only with the vehicle's safety belts and not with the LATCH system.
Register your Case
If you used the AVATAR Child safety seat manufactured by Combi USA, Inc., and were involved in an incident where the seat failed in a collision or other type of accident, please click the link below to submit your complaint and an attorney will review your complaint in light of a possible lawsuit.Published on Jul-10-05