Component
CHILD SEAT:RETRACTOR
13 NHTSA complaints about child seat:retractor issues across 6 makes and 8 models.
The child seat:retractor is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 13 filings from 6 manufacturers and 8 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 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE CARAVAN with 4 filings, followed by PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER and TOYOTA CAMRY. 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 CARAVAN | 4 |
| 2 | PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER | 3 |
| 3 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 1 |
| 4 | NISSAN QUEST | 1 |
| 5 | HONDA ACCORD | 1 |
| 6 | DODGE DURANGO | 1 |
| 7 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 1 |
| 8 | CHEVROLET AVALANCHE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
THE CONSUMER PLACED THE CHILD INSIDE OF THE BOOSTER SEAT, THE BOOSTER SEAT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE HAD AN OPENING INSIDE THE LOOP, THAT WOULD CATCH ON THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT ALLOW THE BELTS TO BE USED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD TWO SUCH SEATS IN THE VEHICLE, WHERE SEAT BELTS COULD NOT BE USED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED
WHEN PLACING THE CHILD INSIDE THE CAR SEAT THE HANDLE BROKE, CAUSING THE CHILD TO FALL OUT.*AK
CONSUMER'S 5 YEAR OLD CHILD ATTEMPTED TO SECURE HIMSELF IN THE REAR CENTER SAFETY BELT. DURING THE ATTEMPT, THE BELT WAS ACCIDENTLY SECURED AROUND CHILD'S NECK AND THE RETRACTOR LOCKED INTO PLACE. C
CHILD SEAT BUCKLE OF CHEST RETRACTOR BROKE FROM CARSEAT WHILE TRAVELING. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
EVENFLO ON MY WAY POSITION RIGHT V - HARNESS STRAP ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY BROKE AND BECAME LOOSE. *AK
BELT RETRACTOR FOR THE INTEGRAL CHILD SAFETY SEAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. BELT IS EXTENDED FULLY AND CANNOT BE USED PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE AN
OUR QUEST COMES EQUIPPED WITH BUILT-IN, FOLD DOWN CHILD SEATS IN THE SECOND ROW. HOWEVER, THE SAFETY BELTS FOR THESE SEATS (SIMILAR IN CONFIGURATION TO A REGULAR CARSEAT, THUS SECURING THE SHOULDERS,
VEHICLE HAS 2 BUILT-IN CAR SEATS THAT RETRACTOR MODULE FOR HARNESS HAS FAILED, TRAPPING CHILDREN IN SEAT. *AK
INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT HARNESS FAILED TO RETRACT WHICH RESULTED IN CHOKING THE CHILD WHILE IN THE SEAT, HARNESS HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CHILD. DEALER NOTIFIED/ WAS THE ONE WHO CUT T
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 3-YEAR OLD, WHO WAS SEATING IN A CAR SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVER'S SEAT, RAPPED REAR SHOULDER BELT AROUND HIS NECK WITH TENSION SET, ALMOST WAS CHOKED BY BELT. POLICE OFFICE
THE INTERGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT RETRACTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEWER DESIGNED RETRACTOR BECAUSE OF A SERVICE BULLETIN. NOW CHILDRENS' HAIR GET CAUGHT IN THE RETRACTOR BECAUSE OF THE NEW DESIGN
THE RETRACTOR ON THE BUILT IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT WOULD NOT RELEASE.
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
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.