The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a recall of some Britax Frontier car seats manufactured this year. Detailed information won't be available until Dec. 17, but it looks like the harness can slip off of the metal piece in back of the seat, and the company will provide a repair kit. The NHTSA release reads as follows:

Make: BRITAX

Models: E9L5490 (FRONTIER), E9L54E7 (FRONTIER), E9L54H6 (FRONTIER), E9L54H7 (FRONTIER), E9L54M6 (FRONTIER)

Production Dates: April 1, 2008 - September 18, 2008

Defect: BRITAX IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONTIER CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, MODELS E9L54E7 (FRONTIER RED ROCK), E9L54H6 (FRONTIER RUSHMORE), E9L54H7 (FRONTIER PINK SKY), E9L54M6 (FRONTIER CANYON), AND E9L5490 (FRONTIER SAHARA), MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1 AND SEPTEMBER 18, 2008. IF THE HARNESS STRAPS ARE LOOSENED USING ONE STRAP AT A TIME, THEN THE HARNESS STRAPS MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE METAL YOKE LOCATED ON THE BACK OF THE CHILD SEAT.

Consequence: SHOULD THE HARNESS STRAPS BECOME DETACHED, THE CHILD WILL NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Corrective Action: BRITAX WILL MAIL THE CONSUMER NOTICE AND REMEDY KITS TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT REGISTERED THEIR SEATS WITH BRITAX MUST CALL BRITAX AT 1-704-409-1700 AND REQUEST A KIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 7, 2009. INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE POSTED ON THE BRITAX WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.BRITAXUSA.COM NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 17, 2008. OWNERS WITH OTHER QUESTIONS CAN CONTACT BRITAX AT 1-704-409-1700.

Notes: CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

The Frontier is one of our favorite extended-harnessing seats, and this is an easily-remedied problem but a dangerous one, as well as a disappointing misstep for a highly-regarded company. We have used Britax seats throughout Z's childhood (she currently has a Regent) and admire the company's commitment to extended harnessing and their position at the forefront of new safety technologies in car seat design.

The way NHTSA runs recalls can be a little awkward, but it is more aggressive. Unlike the CPSC, the NHTSA has the clear authority to issue a recall without the company's permission, which the company can then go through a series of challenges to try to reverse if they disagree with it. Here's what the NHTSA says about its own process:

If the manufacturer declines to conduct a recall in response to the Recall Request Letter, the Associate Administrator for Enforcement may issue an Initial Decision that a safety-related defect exists. An Initial Decision will be followed by a Public Meeting, at which the manufacturer and interested members of the public can present information and arguments on the issue. Prior to the Public Meeting, the manufacturer is sent copies of all information on which the Government’s decision is based. A copy of the file is also made available for public inspection in the agency’s Technical Information Services (TIS) Office.

During the meeting itself, the manufacturer may attempt to refute the Government’s evidence in addition to presenting new information. Public interest groups, other manufacturers, trade associations, and consumers may also present information that will be considered and evaluated by NHTSA’s Administrator in making a final decision on whether a safety-related defect exists. The entire investigative record is then presented to NHTSA’s Administrator, who may issue a Final Decision that a safety defect exists and order the manufacturer to conduct a recall.

This is followed by additional opportunities for the company to contest the recall.

Our guess is that Britax was notified of the defect by the NHTSA and quickly agreed to the recall; unfortunately, the process leaves gaps - like the fact that Britax isn't committed to publicizing this until Dec. 17 (there isn't any information on their website as of this writing), and the recall itself won't "begin" until January. That may leave some parents with a sense that they are in limbo, which is the opposite of what a company like Britax would ideally like to do in order to assure consumers that they are in good hands and are being taken care of. Companies have a lot more leverage in negotiating when and how a recall will be orchestrated, and while this often means that CPSC recalls are delayed by foot-dragging tactics, it also means that consumer reaction can be a bit better managed than the NHTSA is doing here.

Whether you own a Frontier or not, a recall like this should serve as a reminder to everyone to make sure they have registered their child's car seat with its manufacturer. This is the best way to get product recall information on one of the most important investments you make in your child's safety.