Component
CHILD SEAT:MATERIAL/PADDING
11 NHTSA complaints about child seat:material/padding issues across 8 makes and 10 models.
The child seat:material/padding is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 11 filings from 8 manufacturers and 10 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 1 crash, 1 fire, 3 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY with 2 filings, followed by SUBARU OUTBACK and PONTIAC VIBE. 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 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 2 |
| 2 | SUBARU OUTBACK | 1 |
| 3 | PONTIAC VIBE | 1 |
| 4 | PLYMOUTH BREEZE | 1 |
| 5 | NISSAN ROGUE | 1 |
| 6 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 1 |
| 7 | FORD F-150 | 1 |
| 8 | FORD EXPEDITION | 1 |
| 9 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 1 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 1 |
Recent Complaints
ON 11/13/19 AT 06:18 A 2016 NISSAN ROGUE SWERVED LEFT, THEN RIGHT, STRUCK A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON AT 30 MPH. DRIVER HAD MINOR ABRASIONS. TWO CHILDREN IN BACK BOTH IN FF CAR SEATS SECURED W LOWER ANCHOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS AN EVENFLO MAESTRO BOOSTER SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: 31021433. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON MAY 15, 2014. THE SAFETY SEAT WAS BEING UTILIZED IN A 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CON
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WEBBING ON THE HARNESS CAN LOSEN ALLOWING CHILD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SEAT. *MC *JB 22-249WAL DOM 1-8-04 COSCO VENTURA
DT: THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE PADDING IN PLACE ON THE CHILD SEAT ARE FALLING APART. NOW THE PADDING UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC BAR THAT KEEPS IT IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM AND TOP ARE BROKE. THE CONSUMER HA
EVENFLO TRIUMPH MODEL # 359128P1, DOM 10/21/2003. THE CHILD WAS CHOKING OFF THE MATERIAL FROM BOTH SIDES OF ARM REST. CHILD WAS ABLE TO PULL UNDERNEATH THE CAR SEAT AND PLACE THE MATERIAL INSID
THE CUSHION OF THIS SEAT ABSORBS LIQUIDS AND WILL NOT DRY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT THE CUSHION IN THE DRYER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT IT WAS STILL WET. THE CUSHION IS GROWING A GREEN MOLD THAT IS SP
CHILD WAS ABLE TO PULL CHILD SAFETY SEAT PADDING OUT. THIS CAUSED CHILD TO CHOKE. *AK
THE SEAT FABRIC UNRAVELED WHILE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE (THE CHILD SEAT INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN). *AK *CB *NLM
HARNESS MATERIAL ON CAR SEAT IS TOO SOFT TO RETAIN FLAT CONFIGURATION; ROLLS UP INTO ROPE-SHAPE INSIDE SHOULDER PADS, BUNCHES AND BINDS IN HARNESS HARDWARE. SEEKING A WAY TO GET INITIATE A REPLACEMENT
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SECURE BOOSTER SEAT BECAUSE OF ALL CUSHION THATS AROUND SEAT.*AK
I HADCAR SEAT PROBLEM WITH THE ON MY WAY CAR SEAT BY EVENFLO. I REPORTED IT BY PHONE AND ALSO WROTE A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF EVENFLO. MY CAR SEAT IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD. MY 7 MONTH OLD SON GRABBED
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve child seat:material/padding issues? ▼
How dangerous are child seat:material/padding defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most child seat:material/padding problems? ▼
Where does PlainCars get its safety data? ▼
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.