The Dutch motorists’ organisation ANWB and the Consumers’ Association warned on Tuesday 6 October about serious defects in two baby car seats: the Britax Römer Baby-Safe Pro with Vario Base 5Z and the Axkid Minikid Core.
The two organisations said the problems came to light during a new round of car seat testing.
In a frontal crash test, the harness buckle on the Britax Römer seat opened when the seat was rear-facing, in the reclined position and attached to the Vario Base 5Z.
A child in that position would no longer be held by the harness, which sharply increases the risk of serious injury.
The buckle did not open when the seat was upright on the base, or when it was secured with the car’s seat belt instead of an Isofix base.
The Axkid Minikid Core also failed a crash test, after its support leg collapsed on impact.
Both organisations advise against using the Axkid seat, and Axkid has stopped selling it and started a voluntary recall.
ANWB advises against using the Baby-Safe Pro reclined on the Vario Base 5Z, but says it can still be used upright on that base, or secured directly with the car’s seat belt, as long as it is fitted correctly.
