Recaro baby car seats to be recalled after being branded 'high risk'

The car seats have been recalled after being branded dangerous by Which? magazine

A brand of baby car seats have been recalled after failing to comply to safety standards.

The Recaro baby car seats were tested by Which? magazine and were labelled 'high risk' after a video showed a crash test dummy flying forward on impact.

The magazine branded the Recaro Optia car seat a 'Don't buy' as it could cause serious injury in an accident to a baby or child in the seat. Anyone who has purchased the car seat, which comes loose from the Isofix base, will now be offered a replacement by the manufacturer.

A spokesman at Recaro told the Daily Mirror: 'In dynamic tests conducted as part of comparison testing by Stiftung Warentest, the seat separated from the Isofix base. Recaro Child Safety takes this test result very seriously.

'The company therefore implemented numerous measures after receiving this to analyse the reason for the behaviour of the product reported by Stiftung Warentest.'

Image: Recaro

They added: 'Towards this end, Recaro Child Safety has conducted static and dynamic tests, among other things. In all of the internal as well as external tests conducted at accredited testing facilities by the company - and under conditions that far exceed those required by law - the reported problem has not occurred.

'The safety of its customers is the highest priority for Recaro Child Safety. For this reason, the company has decided to stop delivery of the Recaro Optia seat and to no longer permit its sale.

'Even though the described problem has not been repeated by Recaro Child Safety under more strenuous test conditions, the company will replace all Recaro Optia seats.

'Through this program, Recaro Child Safety wishes to ensure, in the interests of ensuring customers' safety, that the respective product will no longer be used.'

Owners of these particular seats have been urged to check the baby seats serial numbers and either check on the company's website or call their hotline.

Recaro will replace the seat free of charge for one of its other brand of car seats.

Sarah Finley
Freelance wrtier

 Sarah is a freelance journalist, writing for various women's magazines and national online consumer titles including the BBC and The Daily Mail, for over 10 years. Sarah has interviewed CEO's, real-life case studies and celebrities. Writing on everything from travel to fitness, and business to beauty - some of her features have been read by millions of people - in just one day.