SAFETY RECALL NOTICE Recall No. 06C

October 2007
Subject:
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
Recall No. 06C-004
Britax® Marathon™ Child Restraint
Model Numbers: E9L06, E9W06, and E906
Manufacture Dates: May 23, 2006 – July 28, 2006
Dear Britax Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Britax Child Safety, Inc. has determined that a small number of Marathon child restraints, model numbers E9L06,
E9W06, and E906 manufactured between May 23, 2006 and July 28, 2006 with a top tether hook stamped with lot
number of KGR 01 A, fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, Child Restraint Systems.
According to our records, your child restraint system may be affected.
What Is The Potential Problem?
Under certain circumstances, if a child exceeds 50 pounds and the vehicle manufacturer allows use of the top tether
above 50 pounds, upon vehicle impact, the top tether hook may open and have the potential to release from the tether
anchor. In the event of a crash, the child may move forward further than allowed under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213. If this were to occur, there is a risk of potential injury to the child. To date, no injuries have been
reported or linked to this issue.
What You Should Do
All registered owners of the Marathon child restraint manufactured between May 23, 2006 and July 28, 2006 are being
sent this safety notification and a top tether hook replacement. Owners should confirm their Marathon is affected by
verifying the model number, date of manufacturer and top tether hook lot number as follows:
1.
2.
Is your Britax Marathon manufactured between May
23, 2006 and July 28, 2006?
¾
If YES, proceed to #2.
¾
If NO, your model is not affected by this
safety campaign, no action is required. You
may discard the top tether hook replacement
included with this letter.
Does your top tether hook have lot number KGR 01 A?
R1: 10/07
P307300
¾
If YES, refer to the instructions for the top
tether hook replacement included with this
notification.
¾
If NO, your model is not affected by this
safety campaign, no action is required. You
may discard the top tether hook replacement
included with this letter.
Where to look:
Where to look:
KGR 01 A
Britax Child Safety, Inc.
13501 South Ridge Drive
Charlotte, NC 28273
USA
A Britax Childcare company
Consumer Services
Tel: 1-800-683-2045
www.BritaxUSA.com
www.MarathonRecall.com
Page 2 of 4
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
Recall No. 06C-004
Britax® Marathon™ Child Restraint
Model Numbers: E9L06, E9W06, and E906
Manufacture Dates: May 23, 2006 – July 28, 2006
If your child restraint is involved in this safety notice, the top tether should not be used with children weighing over 50
pounds until the top tether hook replacement has been installed. Once the new top tether hook has been installed,
place the provided “Do Not Use” label on and discontinue use of the existing top tether hook with lot number KGR 01 A.
Detailed instructions for this safety update are included with this notification letter. Video instructions are also available
at www.BritaxUSA.com. This update should take less than five minutes to complete. Upon completion, your Marathon
can be used with the top tether until the child reaches 65 pounds or until the recommended weight allowed by the
vehicle manufacturer for top tether use.
The Marathon is certified for children weighing up to 65 pounds utilizing Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren
(LATCH) or the vehicle seat belt. In order to ensure optimum safety for your child, Britax recommends that you use
all child restraints in accordance with the child restraint and vehicle manufacturer recommendations and follow the
tether anchor weight limits defined by the vehicle manufacturer.
Questions
Please contact our consumer services information line at 1-800-683-2045 with questions concerning this notice. The
model and manufacture date from your restraint is required when calling. This information is adhered to a white label
located near the top of the restraint shell, under the cover, on the child’s left hand side.
Additional information can be found at www.MarathonRecall.com.
If you believe that we have failed or are unable to remedy this noncompliance without charge or within a reasonable
time, you may submit a complaint to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-4249153), or go to http://www.safecar.gov.
Sincerely,
Britax Child Safety, Inc.
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P307300
Top Tether Hook Replacement Instructions
For Britax® Marathon Child Restraint
Model Nos. E9L06, E9W06, E906 manufactured May 23, 2006 – July 28, 2006
Hook Lot No. KGR01A
Figure 1 shows Items needed for top tether hook
replacement.
Included in Kit:
• "DO NOT USE" label
• Replacement top tether hook
Attaching the Label
Top
Tether
Hook
"Do Not Use"
label
1. Place child restraint on a flat surface facing
away from you, Fig 2.
1
Top Tether Hook
2. Locate the top tether hook on the rear of the
restraint, Fig. 3.
3. Place the "DO NOT USE" label included with
this kit over the top tether hook (lot number
KGRO1A) attached to your restraint.
a. Start by attaching the thin end of the label
to the hook tongue underneath the rivet on
the back of the top tether hook, Fig. 4.
b. Continue to wrap the label along the length
of the hook, pressing firmly to ensure
the adhesive covers the connection point
between the tongue and hook, Fig. 5.
2
Back Side of
Rivet
3
Connection Point
c. The label should terminate beneath the
rivet on the front of the top tether hook,
Fig. 6.
Top Tether Hook Replacement
1. Loosen the top tether connector strap by
pressing the release button and pulling back
on the top tether connector strap to create
more slack, Fig. 7.
4
5
Adjuster
Front Side of
Rivet
Release
Button
Pull
6
Page 3 of 4
R1:10.07
P307300
7
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Recall Service: 800.683.2045
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© 2 0 0 7 B r i t a x C h i l d S a f t e y, I n c . A l l r i g h t s re s e r v e d .
Top Tether Hook Replacement Instructions
For Britax® Marathon Child Restraint
Model Nos. E9L06, E9W06, E906 manufactured May 23, 2006 – July 28, 2006
Hook Lot No. KGR01A
Hook
Curves
Down
Hook
8
Webbing
Tether
Webbing
9
Adjuster
ll
Pu
2. Hold replacement top tether hook so the loop
points toward the restraint and the tether
hook curves down. The replacement tether
webbing should pass over the existing top
tether connector strap, Fig. 8.
3. Feed the webbing and then the hook of
the replacement tether through its loop by
wrapping it backward around the top tether
connector strap, Fig. 9.
4. Pull hook and webbing completely though
the loop. the replacement tether should slide
easily back and forth on the existing top tether
connector strap.
5. The new top tether hook should be in the same
orientation as in Fig. 10.
6. Move the old top tether hook as far to one side
as possible.
7. Re-tighten the top tether connector strap
against the shell by holding the adjuster and
pulling the webbing, Fig. 11.
8. Install the new top tether as instructed in your
user guide originally provided with your child
restraint.
Hook
11
10
WARNING: THE TETHER HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO INDICATE WHEN THE CHILD RESTRAINT HAS
BEEN IN A SEVERE CRASH AND REPLACEMENT OF THE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NECESSARY.
A
Figure A shows the tether
when the child restraint is
acceptable for continued
use. The hook will be held in
place at the top of the loop
by all four rows of stitching.
B
C
Figures B and C show the tether when the child restraint is
unacceptable for continued use. All four rows of stitching are
required to provide maximum protection in the event of impact.
If the hook rips through any stitching on the tether lanyard,
discontinue use of the child restraint and contact Britax Consumer
Services for further instruction.
IMPORTANT: Regardless of whether the colored stitching has been ripped or not, discontinue use of
restraint if it has been involved in a moderate to severe crash.
Page 4 of 4
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