Component
CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT
46 NHTSA complaints about child seat:harness buckle:infant issues across 11 makes and 23 models.
The child seat:harness buckle:infant is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 46 filings from 11 manufacturers and 23 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 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE GRAND CARAVAN with 8 filings, followed by DODGE 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.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 8 |
| 2 | DODGE CARAVAN | 5 |
| 3 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 4 |
| 4 | PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER | 4 |
| 5 | PONTIAC TRANS SPORT | 2 |
| 6 | HONDA ACCORD | 2 |
| 7 | FORD WINDSTAR | 2 |
| 8 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 2 |
| 9 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 2 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 2 |
| 11 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 1 |
| 12 | PONTIAC MONTANA | 1 |
| 13 | OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE | 1 |
| 14 | OLDSMOBILE 98 | 1 |
| 15 | ISUZU RODEO | 1 |
| 16 | HONDA ODYSSEY | 1 |
| 17 | FORD TAURUS | 1 |
| 18 | FORD RANGER | 1 |
| 19 | FORD EXPLORER | 1 |
| 20 | FORD CONTOUR | 1 |
| 21 | FORD AEROSTAR | 1 |
| 22 | DODGE INTREPID | 1 |
| 23 | CADILLAC SEVILLE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
EVENFLO MODEL # 263120-P1, WHEN THE CONSUMER PUSHED THE RELEASE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE STRAPS THE STRAP BUCKLE FELL COMPLETELY APART. THE CLIP WAS STILL HOLDING THE CHILD SAFELY BUT THE CONSUMER COULD
THE BUCKLE ON THE HARNESS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE LATCH BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS. CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE BUCKLE TOGETHER WITH BOTH HANDS IN ORDER TO GET THE SYSTEM TO WORK. *AK
INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE ROW HAD A FIVE POINT HARNESS SYSTEM. THE CABLE THAT LOCKED THE SEAT BELT IN PLACE BROKE, AND SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED.*AK
CENTURY MODEL # 4463 OLTH, DOM 01/06/02, WHILE PUTTING IN CHILD SEAT, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CHILD SEAT WAS NOT STRAIGHT, IT WAS LOP SIDED. TOOK CHILD SEAT TO A LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY
WHILE BUCKLING INFANT IN HARNESS BUCKLE PLATE SEVERED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH PINCHES BOTH INFANTS WHO USE THIS SEAT, BOTH OF THE CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDER THE 50 POUND LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. *SLC
THE SEAT THAT HOUSES THE INFANT SAFETY SEAT CAN BE LIFTED TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN THE FAR BACK OF THE MINIVAN. I HAD LET MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT AND THOUGHT I HAD LOCKED THE SEAT BACK IN PLACE.
THIS IS TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF A CENTURY BRAND CHILD CAR SEAT IN AN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. CENTURY CAR SEAT MODEL: 45100STH, MANUFACTURER'S DATE: 06-30-2000; PURCHASE DATE APPROXIMATELY 8/00. SEAT WAS
SEATBELT MECHANISM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE USED WITH A CHILD SEAT IS VERY UNCONFORTABLE FOR CHILD. C MALE END OF BUCKLE THAT IS DESIGNED TO GO BETWEEN CHILD'S LEGS IS TOO CLOSE TO THE CHILD'S GROIN A
THE CHILD SEAT PLASTIC BUCKLES HAVE WHITE STREAKS SHOWING IN THE PLASTIC AND APPEAR READY TO BREAK ON BOTH SEATS. MANUFACTURER STATES I AM NOT PART OF A RECALL BUT WILL NOT INVESTIGATE AND CONFIRM IS
HARNESS OF CHILD SAFETY SEAT WILL NOT TIGHTEN ANY LONGER. ONCE TIGHTENED IT WILL NOT LOCK. THIS PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN JULY 2001. *AK *YH
CONSUMER STATES THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH PINCHES BOTH INFANTS WHO USE THIS SEAT, BOTH OF THE CHILDREN ARE WELL UNDER THE 50 POUND LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. *SLC
CONSUMER STATED THAT ANOTHER CONSUMER WITH AN OLDER MODEL DODGE CARAVAN. NOTIFIED HIM THAT CAR SEAT WITH A LITTLE OUTWARD PRESSURE SEATBELT BECOMES UNLATCHED. HE WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP. *AK
I PURCHASED THE EVENFLO MEDALLION CARSEAT (MODEL #2541113P1, MANUFACTURED 25FEB00). MY 16 MONTH OLD SON IS ABLE TO UNCLASP THE CHEST BUCKLE. I HAVE TO TO STOP EVERY FEW BLOCKS TO RELATCH IT. I CONT
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 00V396000 CONCERNING CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH, AND WHEN SHE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, THEY HAD NO INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFOR
CHILD SEAT - THE 5 POINT HARNESS ON THE CHILD SEAT HAS TWO BUCKLES ON THE SHOULDER STRAPS THAT SNAP INTO A BUCKLE MOUNTED TO THE SEAT. WHEN I INSTALL THE LEFT SHOULDER BUCKLE INTO THE SEAT BUCKLE, TH
MY VEHICLE HAD NO FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY 3 YEAR OLD CAN FAR TOO EASILY UNBUCKLE HIMSELF. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN ITEM THAT WOULD PREVENT HIM FROM DOING SO. *AK
THE INTERGRATED CHILD SAFTEY SYSTEM SETBELT LOCKED, NOT ALLOWING THE BELT TO BE PULLED AWAY FROM CHILD. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED TO CAUSE THE BELT TO LOCK. AFTER THE CHILD WAS REMOVED, BY RELEASING THE
ABNORMAL ENGINE VIBRATIONS SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE, ACCORDING TO DEALER, THEY ARE WAITING FOR A "SOFTWARE FIX" FOR THE VEHICLE. MAJOR IMPREFECTIONS IN THE CARS FINISH BESIDES MECHANICAL. DASH BOARD NOT
WHENEVER PLACING CCS SEAT IN MIDDLE OF BACK SEAT, AND WHOEVER SITS ON EITHER SIDE OF SEAT WILL BE TRAPPED. PUSH RELEASE BUTTON ON THE CCS IS TOO CLOSE TO THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES ON REGULAR SEATB
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.