NHTSA Complaint #11023511 — 2015 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE BRITAX B SAFE 35 ELITE INFANT CAR SEAT AND THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOUND ON TOP OF THE SEAT WHERE AN INFANT'S FEET/LEGS REST. MY DAUGHTER JUST TURNED 1 A FEW WEEKS AGO AND IS ABLE TO RELEASE THE STRAPS IN THIS CAR SEAT HERSELF. SHE RESTS HER FEET ON THE RED BUTTON AND WITH THE ROAD MOVEMENT OF THE CAR AND HER WIGGLING AROUND, SHE IS ABLE TO LOOSEN THE SEAT ENOUGH TO GET HER ARM OUT OF THE STRAP. IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH FORCE WHATSOEVER TO PUSH DOWN ON THE BUTTON TO CAUSE THE STRAPS TO LOOSEN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME SHE HAS LOOSENED HERSELF FROM THIS SEAT. THE BUTTON IS FULLY EXPOSED WITH NO COVERING IN AN AREA THAT CHILDREN REST THEIR FEET. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL CAR SEAT RETAILERS, I NOTED THAT BRITAX B SAFE INFANT SEAT WAS THE ONLY CAR SEAT THAT DID NOT HAVE A COVERING OVER THE RELEASE BUTTON. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THOSE CAR SEATS IF NEEDED. EVEN BRITAX'S OWN CONVERTIBLE SEATS AT LEAST HAVE A LIP OVER THE BUTTON TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM RELEASING IT. EVERY SINGLE CAR SEAT I CAME ACROSS EITHER HAD THE RELEASE BUTTON UNDER THE PADDING, HAD A PLASTIC LIP THAT EXTENDED OVER THE BUTTON, OR WAS POSITIONED IN A WAY THAT A CHILD COULD NOT RELEASE IT (MUCH LESS AN INFANT). THIS CLEARLY SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN AND SAFETY FEATURE THAT WAS OVERLOOKED BY BRITAX. BRITAX CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME MY DAUGHTER WAS TOO TALL FOR THE SEAT YET SHE FALLS UNDER THE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS OF 32 INCHES AND/OR 35 LBS. THIS IS MY 4TH BRITAX CAR SEAT PURCHASE AND I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THEIR BRAND UP UNTIL NOW. THE 3 OTHER SEATS I OWN ALL HAVE THE RELEASE BUTTON UNDER THE SEAT PADDING WHERE AN INFANT/CHILD CANNOT EASILY GET TO IT. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING TO KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT SAFE IN HER CAR SEAT AS I WAS DRIVING AROUND. WE HAVE SINCE DISCONTINUED USING THIS SEAT.