NHTSA Stops Volvo from Introducing Advanced Child Car Seats

Saturday, April 25, 2009
On April 16 Volvo announced its launch of three new child seats that offer a wider range of protection for children up to the age of ten, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has banned the sale of these child seats in the U.S. because federal laws stipulate that child seats must fit in all car models and cannot be vehicle-specific.
 
One of the three new child seats allows for children to ride rearward-facing up to the age of six, much older than previous child seats have allowed. According to Volvo, children have weaker necks and their heads are proportionately larger than adults’. When children ride rearward-facing, the impact on a child during a collision is spread out. Volvo recommends that children should ride rearward-facing up to the age of six in order to prevent fatal injuries during a collision. By allowing older children to ride rearward-facing, Volvo’s new child seats can potentially save many children’s lives.
 
But because these child seats are specific to Volvos, the NHTSA has banned Volvo’s introduction of these child seats in the U.S., even to Volvo drivers. The NHTSA recommends that children only need to ride in the backseat, rearward-facing up to the age of 1. According to U.S. rules, toddlers and older children should ride in backseat forward-facing toddler seats or booster seats. 
 
Volvo owners in Europe and Asia will be able to buy the new seats this summer, but Volvo-driving parents in North America will not.
-Jamie Mei Cheng
 
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Comments

gb 14 years ago
Ridiculous. If one owns a Volvo, they should be allowed to purchase the Volvo seat, perhaps with proof of Volvo registration. Other seats in the US have poorly designed bottoms that cut into the fabric/leather of the passenger seat cushions. Perhaps Volvo can make the necessary changes, or another manufacturer can create a "better bottom".
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Lena 15 years ago
The ISOFIX system may very well not work in some cars in the USA even tough they have LATCH/ISOFIX points. LATCH points may have the wrong angle and/or be wider apart. Maybe Britax and Volvo will create a seat that can use both seatbelt and LATCH some day.
Lena 15 years ago
Well, just found the reason that the convertiable and the infant seat cannot be made legal in the USA. They don´t have LATCH. LATCH seats are not allowed in Europe. Some European RF seats have ISOFIX (rigid LATCH) and many can use a seatbelt as well.
Lena 15 years ago
SO these Swedish car seats have been banned for sale in the USA due to endless car compatiblity lists. But they can be made legal for families with disabled children, who need to remain RF past 35 lbs.without regard to the lists. Makes no sense at all.
Lena 15 years ago
Forgot to add one thing. At least one family has been allowed to legally import and use the RF toddler seat Britax Multi-Tech, due to severe injuries their child sustained in a crash. Permission was given by NHTSA without regard to make and model of the car it was going into.
Judi 15 years ago
Not all car seats fit in all vehicles. The pic I saw of the Volvo seat is a Britax Multi tech. It fits in American vehicles. NHSTA- give us these seats!
Lena 15 years ago
The seats in question here are Volvo branded Britax seats. These aren´t really Volvo car seats. They are in fact Britax seats. The compatible lists that come with these seats don´t involve Volvo cars only. In fact they are endless. One of the seats is the Britax Multi-tech rearfacing from 20-55 lbs.
Devils Advocate 15 years ago
@Logician In Europe and Asia, the kid is simply stranded or rides unsafely because no agency required compatibility. If Volvo didn't design it to meet regulations in a particular country, they probably didn't really intend to sell it there. Really, they banned themselves.
Logician 15 years ago
@JKT What, do cars not break down in Europe and Asia?

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