Component

CHILD SEAT

822 NHTSA complaints about child seat issues across 39 makes and 246 models.

The child seat is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 822 filings from 39 manufacturers and 246 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 49 crashes, 3 fires, 106 injuries, and 11 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE CARAVAN with 75 filings, followed by DODGE GRAND CARAVAN and PLYMOUTH VOYAGER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

822
Complaints
246
Models Affected
49
Crashes
3
Fires
11
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE CARAVAN 75
2 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 41
3 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 32
4 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER 27
5 HONDA ODYSSEY 24
6 FORD TAURUS 19
7 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 19
8 TOYOTA SIENNA 18
9 FORD WINDSTAR 18
10 FORD EXPLORER 18
11 CHEVROLET VENTURE 15
12 TOYOTA CAMRY 14
13 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 12
14 HONDA ACCORD 12
15 CHEVROLET BLAZER 11
16 FORD EXPEDITION 9
17 TOYOTA COROLLA 8
18 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 8
19 CHEVROLET MALIBU 8
20 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 7
21 HONDA PILOT 7
22 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 7
23 TOYOTA PRIUS 5
24 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 5
25 PONTIAC GRAND AM 5
26 NISSAN ALTIMA 5
27 JEEP CHEROKEE 5
28 FORD FOCUS 5
29 DODGE STRATUS 5
30 DODGE DURANGO 5

Recent Complaints

2022 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

The contact owns an Evenflo Car Seat, Model Number: 368124708, Model Type: Revolve 360 Slim, Manufactured Date: July 11, 2024. The car seat was being used in a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact rece

2017 BMW X5

The contact owns a Nuna car seat, Model Type: Rava, Model Number: CS05103CVR, Manufactured Date: July 14, 2022. The car seat was being used in a 2017 BMW X5. The contact stated that the left side harn

2025 TOYOTA GRAND HIGHLANDER

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander with an Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim car seat, Model Number: 36812470A, Manufactured Date: December 12, 2022, installed in the vehicle. The contact received

2025 SUBARU FORESTER

The contact owns a Chicco Keyfit 360 Convertible child seat installed in a 2025 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the harness strap had detached from the T-bar in the rear of the child seat. Th

2021 GMC TERRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V339000 (Child Seat); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated t

2001 DODGE DAKOTA

The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V366000 (Child Seat); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dea

2025 BUICK ENCLAVE Crash

The contact owns an Evenflo Safety Seat, Model Type: Revolve Extend 360 Rotational All-in-One Convertible Car Seat, Model Number: 25701756, manufactured in October 2022. The safety seat was being util

2022 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS

The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, and pressed the brakes when suddenly the second row passenger side captain seat erroneously moved f

2012 BUICK REGAL

The contact owns a Safety 1st Car Seat, Model Name: Disney Baby Jive 2-in-1 Convertible, Model Number: CC286-GAD, Manufactured Date: August 17, 2022. The contact stated that the forward-facing safety

2015 CHEVROLET TAHOE

The contact owns a Britax Safety Seat, Model Type: Emblem, Model Number: E1A698A002299, Manufactured Date: 12-26-18. The contact stated that the height adjustment bar had fractured and failed to secur

2023 GMC YUKON XL

The contact owns 3 Nuna Rava Car Seats. The first car seat Model Type: Convertible, Model Number: CS05103CVR, Manufactured Date: April 16, 2019. The second car seat Model Type: Convertible, Model Numb

2024 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

The contact owns a Nuna Rava Car Seat, Model Type: Convertible, Model Number: CS05013-GRN, Manufactured Date: July 16, 2016. The contact stated that the harness buckle became difficult to adjust while

2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE350

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes GLE350 with a Nuna Car Seat installed, Model Name: Rava, Model Number: CS05107RFD, Manufactured Date: May 05, 2021. The contact stated that on several occasions whenev

2021 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

See attached document for complaint.

2013 HONDA ODYSSEY

The contact owns a Diono car seat, Model Type: Cambria 2, Model Number: 31242 NA 01, Manufactured Date: January 9, 2024. The car seat was installed in a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while dr

2012 FIAT 500

The contact owns a Cybex Car Seat, Model Name: Aton 2, Manufactured Date: Aug 2019. The car seat was used in a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23C001000 (Chi

2021 TESLA MODEL Y

The contact owns a Britax, Model number: e1a267, Model Type: Advocate, and was manufactured on December 20 2020. The car seat was being utilized in a 2021 Tesla Model y The contact stated that while

2014 SUBARU FORESTER

The contact owns a Maxi Cosi Pria 85. The car seat was being utilized in a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21C003000 (Child Seat) however, the part to

2017 TOYOTA CAMRY

It’ was not bad

2015 GMC YUKON

The contact owns a Recaro car seat, Model Type: Young Sport Hero, Model Number: N/A, Manufactured Date: N/A. The car seat was being utilized in a 2015 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that her child was

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve child seat issues?
The NHTSA has received 822 complaints about child seat problems across 246 vehicle models from 39 manufacturers.
How dangerous are child seat defects?
CHILD SEAT issues have been linked to 49 crashes, 3 fires, 106 injuries, and 11 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most child seat problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for child seat issues is the DODGE CARAVAN with 75 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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