Component
CHILD SEAT:SHELL:BOOSTER
13 NHTSA complaints about child seat:shell:booster issues across 8 makes and 10 models.
The child seat:shell:booster 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 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 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the MERCEDES-BENZ 420 with 3 filings, followed by FORD WINDSTAR and TOYOTA SIENNA. 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 | MERCEDES-BENZ 420 | 3 |
| 2 | FORD WINDSTAR | 2 |
| 3 | TOYOTA SIENNA | 1 |
| 4 | TOYOTA AVALON | 1 |
| 5 | OLDSMOBILE 88 | 1 |
| 6 | JEEP LIBERTY | 1 |
| 7 | FORD ESCORT | 1 |
| 8 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 1 |
| 9 | CHRYSLER CONCORDE | 1 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET BERETTA | 1 |
Recent Complaints
BRITAX PINNACLE CLICKTIGHT, INSTALLED FOLLOWING INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS IN BOOSTER MODEL IN 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA MIDDLE-ROW, SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING CHILD SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE INJURY IN CA
MY 3 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS RESTRAINED IN AN EVENFLO "BIG KID BOOSTER SEAT" IN THE REAR-MIDDLE SEAT POSITION OF A 2007 JEEP LIBERTY. THEY WERE T-BONED BY A DRUNK DRIVER RUNNING A RED LIGHT, AND THE VEHICL
BOOSTER SEAT TETHER STRAP ANCHOR WAS INSTALLED TO THE LEFT OF THE "THIRD" LIGHT LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DECK LID - BY THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM - YESTERDAY, 2/5/02. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE B
THE PLASTIC SEAM WHERE THE BACK AND SEAT PORTION OF THE CHILD CAR SEAT BROKE. THEREFORE, THE BACK CAN JUST FLOP FRONTWARDS AND BACKWARDS. OUR OTHER SEAT (SAME MODEL) SHOWS STRESS AT THE SAME SEAM (P
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE, SHE IS OVER 40 POUNDS BUT CAN NOT USE A BOOSTER BECAUSE THE BACK SEAT DOES NOT HAVE SHOULDER BELTS? SHOULD I PUT HER IN THE FRONT? THEY SAY THAT
ACCORDING TO FORD'S OWNER GUIDE ON INSTALLATION OF CHILD SEATS. YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO PUT KNEE ON SEAT AND TIGHTEN BELT. THEN TEST IT BY ROCKING SIDE TO SIDE. FORDS SEAT BELTS DO NOT HOLD CAR SEAT IN
THE PLASTIC BELT GUIDE ON THE BOOSTER SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT BELT NOW WILL NOT STAY WITHIN THE BELT GUIDE, THUS MAKING THE BOOSTER SEAT UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE.
THE HARNESSES ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD RESTRAINT SEATS DO NOT RESTRAIN MY CHILD AT ALL. SHE CAN SIMPLY WIGGLE HER SHOULDERS THROUGH AND CLIMB OUT. SHE HAS WIGGLED HER SHOULDERS AND UPPER BODY THROUGH
CENTURY BREVERRA CONTOUR DOES NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY IN BACK MIDDLE OF TOYOTA AVALON. DUE TO HUMP IN MIDDLE ELR/ALR SEAT BELT CANNOT BE TIGHTENED PROPERLY. SEAT TILTS TO SIDE. ELR RELEASES. LOCKING CLI
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
REFER ODI:479198 THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY SECURE A CHILD SEAT IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. *AK
REFER TO NHTSA OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVEST. ODI ID: 479198 CAR SEAT PROBLEM STILL EXIST
THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT ON THIS YEAR MODEL WITH THE SUPPLIED SEAT BELTS
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.