In recent years, Graco has recalled millions of car seats with sticky buckles, weak harnesses, and other safety defects. Graco has also been hit with class actions for Booster Seats that were marketed as “safe” for 30-pound children.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Graco car seat and booster seat induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your child or somebody you know was injured in a Graco car seat or booster seat, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Graco Booster Seat Class Action Lawsuits
In May and July 2020, Graco was hit with multiple class action lawsuits for booster seats that were advertised as “safe” for children who weigh as little as 30 pounds.
However, internal documents suggest that Graco’s own tests revealed serious safety hazards (particularly in side-impact car crashes).
The Class Action Lawsuit (PDF) was filed on July 21, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia – Case No. 1:20-cv-03030-LMM.
Graco Recalls Millions of Car Seats For Safety Defects
Graco has recalled millions of car seats with sticky buckles, weak harnesses, and other safety defects. In the event of an emergency such as a car accident, fire, submersion in water, or a medical emergency, it may be impossible to remove the child from the seat, which could result in severe injury or even death.
Graco Recalls 25,000 “My Ride 65” Car Seats for Defective Harness
In June 2017, Graco voluntarily recalled over 25,000 “My Ride 65” car seats sold in the summer of 2014 after the harness webbing broke in two crash-tests. Click here to read more.
Graco Fined $10 Million for Delaying Car Seat Recall
After delaying a recall of about 4 million car seats with defective buckles, federal safety officials have ordered Graco to pay at least $10 million in fines and steps to improve child safety. The fines were the result of a 5-year delay in Graco’s recall of 6 million car seats with defective buckles that may get stuck and be impossible to open in an emergency. Click here to read more.
Graco Car Seat Recall for Stuck Buckles
In July 2014, Graco bent under pressure from federal safety authorities and agreed to recall 1.9 million infant car seats with buckles that can get progressively stickier over time and may be impossible to open in an emergency. Click here to read more.
Recalled Graco infant car seats include:
- SnugRide, SnugRide Classic Connect
- SnugRide 30, SnugRide Classic Connect 30
- SnugRide 35, SnugRide Classic Connect 35
- SnugRide Click Connect 40
- Aprica A30
Click here for a complete list of recalled car seats.
Graco Recalls Car Seats With Sticky Buckles
The New York Times reports that Graco is facing increasing pressure from the NHTSA to recall infant car safety seats that have a buckle the agency says is defective. The NHTSA has ordered a series of tests to see how long a malfunctioning buckle would delay freeing an infant during an emergency. Click here to read more.
Graco car seat recall of 3.8 million child car seats in 2014 has been expanded to include 403,222 toddler and booster seats (model years 2006-2014), bringing the total to 4.2 million car seats. However, Graco is not complying with U.S. government safety officials who want another 1.8 million infant car seats recalled because they have the same buckle.
Car seats added to the recall (model years 2006-2014):
- Argos 70 Elite
- Ready Ride
- Step 2
- My Ride 65 with Safety Surround
- My Size 70
- Head Wise 70 with Safety Surround
- Nautilus 3-in-1
- Nautilus Plus
- Smart Seat with Safety Surround
Graco Recalls 3.8 Million Car Seats
Graco Children’s Products Inc. of Atlanta has issued a recall announcement for nearly 3.8 million child car seats with a defective buckle. The products were manufactured between 2009 and 2013. According to the announcement: “Graco identified that food and dried liquids that can make some harness buckles progressively more difficult to open over time or become stuck in the latched position.”
Recalled car seats include:
- Cozy Cline
- Comfort Sport
- Classic Ride 50
- Head Wise 70 with Safety Surround
- My Ride 65, 70
- My Ride 65 with Safety Surround
- My Size 70
- Ready Ride
- Size4Me 70
- Smart Seat
- Smart Seat with Safety Surround
- Toddler Convertible Car Seats
Harnessed booster seats:
- Nautilus 3-in-1
- Nautilus Elite
- Nautilus Plus
- Argos 70, Elite
NHTSA Demands Recall of 1.8 Million Graco Infant Car Seats With Same Buckle
The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) is demanding that Graco recall an additional 1.77 million infant car seats with the same buckle as the 3.8 million recalled car seats for children. Graco disagrees, saying that the infant seats can be un-buckled at the base, which is attached to the vehicle. The NHTSA has called the recall “incomplete and misleading to both the agency and consumers.”
Infant car seats that U.S. officials want recalled:
- Snugride
- Snugride 30
- Snugride 32
- Infant Safe Seat-Step 1
- Snugride 35
- Tuetonia 35
- Snugride Click Connect 40
Lawsuit Filed for Child Who Died in Graco Car Seat
Graco has reached a confidential settlement with the family of Leiana Ramirez, a 2 year-old girl who died in a Graco Nautilus car seat. The accident occurred on an old, narrow section of highway in Los Angeles. Leiana’s mother pulled to the side to change a flat tire and her vehicle was rear-ended by a 22 year-old driving a SUV. The vehicles burst into flames with the girl trapped inside. Her mother and bystanders were unable to remove her from the car seat. Graco denies that the car seat was responsible for the girl’s death.
Graco Car Seat Class Action Lawsuit
Lawyers have filed a Graco car seat class action in California on behalf of consumers nationwide who purchased a car seat with a defective buckle. Many people have complained that they struggled excessively to open the buckle, had to cut the straps, maneuver their child without opening the buckle, or stop using the car seat altogether.
What Should I Do?
Graco is offering customers a free replacement buckle. If you have registered your car seat, you will receive a letter with instructions on how to order a buckle. If you have not registered your car seat, contact the company’s customer service hotline at 800-345-4109 (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or visit their website, www.gracobaby.com.
How to clean a sticky Graco car seat buckle:
Do I have a Graco Car Seat Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Graco car seat and booster seat induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your child or somebody you know was injured in a Graco car seat or booster seat, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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