Chicco recalls 18,000 infant safety seats

Chicco is recalling 18,000 bases used in three of its popular rear-facing, infant safety seats.  A defect in some of the bases can prevent them from being tightly secured to a vehicle when the LATCH attachments are used for installation. The recall affects KeyFit and KeyFit 30 child restraint systems and Cortina Travel Systems manufactured between February 26, 2008 and March 17, 2008.

In a recall notice posted on its site, Chicco explains the problem this way: "Specifically, when a defective base is installed with the lower LATCH attachment straps, the webbing used to tighten the base to the vehicle seat can slip through the adjustment lock. If the webbing were to slip during a vehicle crash, the base could move, possibly increasing the risk of injury."

Owners of the car seat can still use it safely if they attach it to the vehicle using the car's safety belts instead of the lower LATCH attachments. A video on Chicco's site shows how to do this.

To determine whether you have one of the defective bases, check the serial number (see photo) on a label attached to the under side of the base. If the serial number is between 08 02 26 (corresponding to February 26, 2008) and 08 03 17 (corresponding to March 17, 2008), your base is covered by this recall.

Chicco is contacting owners who have sent in their registration cards and has established a replacement policy for owners who have not:

• Call 1-800-807-8817 to report the defective base.
• Chicco will send a pre-paid envelope to you.
• Cut the grey webbing that attaches the two black lower LATCH connectors to ensure that the seat is unusable with the LATCH attachments.
• Send the two LATCH connectors and your name, mailing address, and phone number in the pre-paid envelope to:

            Chicco USA
            Att: KeyFit Recall
            1835 Freedom Road
            Lancaster, PA 17601

Chicco will send a replacement base within two weeks of getting the lower LATCH connectors.