Blog

May 08, 2023

Safety 1st and Maxi

Owners are entitled to a refund or free replacement seat Nearly 60,000 Safety

Owners are entitled to a refund or free replacement seat

Nearly 60,000 Safety 1st onBoard 35 Secure Tech, Maxi-Cosi Coral XP, Maxi-Cosi Mico XP Max, Maxi-Cosi Mico XP, Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe+, and Maxi-Cosi Infant Base car seats are being recalled by their manufacturer because their bases may detach from the vehicle seat. A child seat might not properly restrain a child in a crash if it is detached from the vehicle. (Also see: "Safety 1st and Maxi-Cosi Child Car Seats Recalled to Fix Safety Issue.")

The manufacturer of the seats, Dorel Juvenile Group, will send replacement bases to owners, free of charge. In the meantime, the company says that owners may continue to use their car seat with the base or with the carrier only, but in either case it must be secured with the vehicle's own seat belt. Instructions for doing so are in the car seat owner's manual.

Consumer Reports advises owners to follow the manufacturer's instructions and take the additional step of locking the vehicle belt. This is an optional step in the manufacturer's instructions, which we highly recommend given the nature of the recall.

In documents provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Dorel says the defect was uncovered during routine compliance testing. The manufacturer says it has not received any reports of injuries related to the issue.

"Today's recall is a reminder that you should always register your car seat as soon as you purchase it so the manufacturer can get in touch with you if something is wrong with your seat," says Emily Thomas, auto safety manager at CR, who oversees the car seat testing program. You can register your car seat online at the manufacturer's website, or by mail with the registration card provided with your seat. In the case of these recalled seats, head to safety1st.com.

NHTSA's SaferCar phone app will also notify owners of recalls on cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, tires, child car seats, and even certain vehicle components long before traditional mailed notices can reach them.

Seats Recalled

• Safety 1st onBoard 35 SecureTech IC351 rear-facing infant seats manufactured between May 1, 2022 and Feb. 28, 2023

• Maxi-Cosi Coral XP IC313 seats manufactured between May 1, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2023

• Maxi-Cosi Mico XP Max IC337 seats manufactured between Jan. 1, 2021 and Feb. 28, 2023

• Maxi-Cosi Mico XP IC336 and IC338 seats manufactured between Sept. 1, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2023

• Maxi-Cosi Micro Luxe+ IC370 seats manufactured between Jan. 1, 2022 and Feb. 28, 2023

• Maxi-Cosi Infant Base IC335 seat bases manufactured between Jan. 1, 2021 and Feb. 28, 2023

The problem: Third-party compliance testing of the Safety 1st onBoard 35 SecureTech IC351 seat showed that the lower seat anchors used to secure the child seat base may fail, allowing the child seat to detach. This means the seat is in violation of federal motor vehicle safety standards. The seat manufacturer, Dorel Juvenile Group, says that five Maxi-Cosi seats used a similar design to the one that failed in the Safety 1st seat, and recalled all six models.

The fix: The manufacturer initially provided new seat bases to owners, free of charge. Customers are now eligible for a refund or a replacement car seat of a different model: Maxi-Cosi Mico Luxe or Maxi-Cosi Pria All-in-one.

How to contact the manufacturer: Dorel will mail recall notification letters to owners starting on April 7, 2023. Owners may also call Dorel at 877-657-9546 or email [email protected].

NHTSA campaign number: 23C002

Keith Barry

Keith Barry has been an auto reporter at Consumer Reports since 2018. He focuses on safety, technology, and the environmental impact of cars. Previously, he led home and appliance coverage at Reviewed; reported on cars for USA Today, Wired, and Car & Driver; and wrote for other publications as well. Keith earned a master's degree in public health from Tufts University. Follow him on Twitter @itskeithbarry.