Britax is recalling its Frontier child restraint systems because of a problem with its harness straps. According to this news report on Consumeraffairs.com, if the harness straps are loosened using one strap at a time, the straps may become detached from the metal yoke located on the back of the child seat. Should these harness straps become detached, the child will not be properly restrained in the car seat posing an increased risk of injury or death in the event of an auto accident.

The models being affected by this car seat recall include: E9L54E7 (Frontier Red Rock), E9L54H6 (Frontier Rushmore), E9L54H7 (Frontier Pink Sky), E9L54M6 (Frontier Canyon), and E9L5490 (Frontier Sahara). All of these models were manufactured between April and September of 2008. Consumers who own these defective car seats will be getting notification from the manufacturer. All registered owners will also get remedy kits free of charge. Those who have not registered their car seats are asked to call Britax at 1-704-409-1700 to request their complimentary kit.

For more information about this recall, please call Britax at the above number or visit their Web site at www.britaxusa.com. Consumers may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov, for more information about this safety recall.

Product defects generally fall under two categories – manufacturing defects that occur during the manufacturing process and design defects that occur even before the product is manufactured. A poorly designed product can be as dangerous as a poorly manufactured product. Examples of such product defects include seat restraint systems, seatbacks and even vehicles. It seems to me that this child restraint system was defectively designed. I’m glad that they are recalling these products. So far there have been no reports of injury or death as a result of these defectively designed car seats. It is indeed a relief that no young children have been seriously injured because of these defective restraint systems. If you own one of these car seats, please act immediately.

However, please remember that any car seat is better than no car seat at all. It is a known fact that child car seats save young lives. Please do not let your children travel unless they are in a safe child restraint system.