A brand of child's car seat has been recalled after potentially dangerous issues were identified with the harness that could injure kids.
608,786 of the "Rava" child seats have been voluntarily recalled by the brand Nuna Baby Essentials, due to issues with the plastic harness adjuster buttons.
The affected seats were manufactured between July 16, 2016, and Oct. 25, 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).
Car seats made after Oct. 25, 2023, have a piece of fabric covering the harness adjuster area, which means they do not have the same issue.
The affected products have model numbers:
- CS-50
- CS05101
- CS05103
- CS05104
- CS05105
- CS05106
- CS05107
- CS05109
- CS05110
- CS05111
- CS05114
- CS05115
Why are Nuna Baby Essentials car seats being recalled?
"The defect is a result of debris entering the area where the front harness adjuster is located. The debris may cause the teeth of the adjuster mechanism to no longer properly clamp onto the adjuster strap, resulting in the harness no longer remaining tight," the NHTSA explained in a release.
"If a child restraint harness is not tight in a crash, the child could be injured."
A tight seatbelt or car seat minimizes the amount of movement a person or child can experience during a crash. This helps prevent them from being thrown around inside the vehicle or ejected from it, significantly reducing the risk of severe injuries.
Additionally, seatbelts and car seats ensure that the forces from the collision are distributed across the strongest parts of the body (like the chest, shoulders, and hips), reducing the risk of injuries to more vulnerable areas, such as the head or neck.
"There are no injuries or fatalities reported in connection with this issue," the NHTSA said.
What to do if you have a Nuna Baby Essentials car seat
Nuna has said that if the harness is still functioning as intended, then customers can still use it. They recommend customers perform a specific Harness Function Test to determine if their car seat is still safe to use.
However, customers can also request to be provided with a remedy kit for no extra price, which will allow them to replace the faulty harness adjustor.
"Owners will be eligible to receive a new seat pad, cleaning kit, and care instructions to ensure the car seat's harness adjuster is kept clean and working properly," Nuna said in a statement.
"We are committed to ensuring the highest safety standards, which is why we are taking this proactive step."
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