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Accident Reconstruction News Article

Consumer Alert: Britax Child Safety, Inc. to Conduct Safety Recall for "Companion" Child Safety Seats

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that Britax Child Safety, Inc. is conducting a safety recall campaign, starting September 29, 2006, for the “Companion” rear-facing, infant-only child safety seat (Model E9L14). The recall includes seats produced from October 31, 2003, through June 6, 2004.

Due to incorrect assembly of some of the infant carriers, tabs on the bottom of the carrier may not be properly seated. As a result, these child restraints fail to conform to the dynamic test requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, “Child Restraint Systems.” In the event of a vehicle crash, the carrier would rotate beyond the limit required by the standard, possibly resulting in serious injury or even death to the child.

Britax will notify all registered owners and ask them to inspect the bottom of the carrier.

Instructions for this inspection will be provided. If the carrier was assembled incorrectly, Britax will replace the carrier and the base free of charge. However, owners are advised that they may continue using the carrier without the base until they receive a new restraint system. Proper instructions on installing the carrier in the car without the base are provided in the product users' guide. Installation instructions are also available online at www.britaxusa.com. Owners may contact Britax’s toll-free number at 1-888-427-4829.

The Britax recall number for this campaign is BCS #090601. Consumers with questions about this or any other safety recall campaign should contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to www.safercar.gov.

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