Child seat (Britax)
Car seat recall 97C-012. NHTSA received BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC.’s report on Apr 14, 1997.
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The short answer
NHTSA received BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC.’s report on Apr 14, 1997. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
IF A CHILD RELEASES THE BUCKLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED BY THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND COULD BE INJURED.
THE MINIMUM FORCE REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE BELT BUCKLE COULD BE LESS THAN THE MINIMUM BUCKLE FORCE REQUIRED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 213, “CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.” A CHILD COULD HAVE AN EASIER TIME OPENING THE BUCKLE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Child seat.
What should you do?
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW BUCKLE BUTTON AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 1997.NOTE:OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE A NEW BUCKLE BUTTON AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BRITAX AT 1-888-.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.( PREVIOUS RECALL NUMBER 97E012000)
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 8,000 seats potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
Who is recalling it?
- Made by BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.