Britax Boulevard recall

November, 2006





SAFETY RECALL NOTICE



Dear Britax Owner:



This notice has been sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Britax Child Safety, Inc. has decided that certain Britax® Boulevard® child restraint systems, Model No. E9L57, manufactured between March 1, 2006 and August 1, 2006 fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, Child Restraint Systems. According to our records, your child restraint system may be affected.



What’s Wrong

During product evaluation, Britax determined that under certain circumstances the top tether hook may open or break and release from the tether anchor. This situation has only been demonstrated with the child restraint installed forward facing, using the top tether attachment, with a test dummy simulating a child weighing greater than 50 lbs. If the top tether hook were to break, in the event of a crash, the child restraint may move from the upright position to a reclined position. With this condition, there is the increased risk of injury to the child.



What You Should Do

All consumers are being instructed to discontinue use of the top tether once the child’s weight reaches 50 lbs. Enclosed are two labels. The first is to be placed in the Boulevard® Users Guide in section entitled, Installation – Versa-Tether®, page 21. The other label should be placed on the Boulevard® tether adjuster.



The labels are designed to remind you and other caregivers to discontinue use of the top tether assembly once the child’s weight exceeds 50 lbs. You may continue to use the top tether assembly in the rear-facing installations for all recommended weight ranges; as well you may also continue to use the top tether assembly in forward-facing installations for children until their weight reaches 50 lbs.



Questions

Please contact our recall information line at 1-800-683-2045 with questions concerning this issue. When you call, be sure to have the model and manufacture date from your restraint(s). You can get further information on our website, at www.britaxusa.com.



If you believe that we have failed or are unable to remedy this noncompliance without charge or within a reasonable time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safecar.gov.



We apologize for this inconvenience but we know our consumers expect us to be every bit as cautious as they are in protecting the safety of their children.



Sincerely,

Britax Child Safety, Inc.

Re: Britax Boulevard recall

bump

Re: Britax Boulevard recall

Glad we bought the cheaper Evenflo Triumph then...

Re: Britax Boulevard recall

Thank you for posting this. I'm pizzed I registered with them when I bought it and have yet to receive this letter Plus we spent $299 for what? I'm going to be calling them tmr.

Re: Britax Boulevard recall

Thanks for the info!

ETA Im pizzed too - this is our car seat too and BRU doesnt even LIST it on their site anymore. When were they going to tell us this? I didnt get any notification either.

Message edited 11/29/2006 6:56:03 PM.

Re: Britax Boulevard recall

So does this mean that Boulevards bought before March don't have an issue with the top tether?