Since the Frontier ClickTight had issues in their testing, it receives only a BASIC rating for crash protection, meaning that it meets all the required and necessary standards from NHTSA (the federal government) but it does not provide greater margins of safety, in their opinion, when tested with the bigger ATDs who weigh more than 50 lbs. Your daughter is at an age where she can move to a highback booster or stay in a harnessed seat. These seats are so expensive and to find out that they cant perform as promised is so disappointing. Ive seen reviews that the Frontier belt got stucked and Im scared that happens with my Honda Civic (I had hard time installing the EvenfloPlatinum Symphony DLX and sometimes the belt feels hard to move). While CR does not give us any actual data to make decisions about exactly how much safer one model is than another overall, I do think that major failures like a harness pulling through the shell in this testing should be considered at some level and not dismissed entirely. The Frontier is rated a Best Bet for fit by the IIHS as a high back booster. Currently, these seats are the ONLY combination seats that can do that. She falls asleep and slumps over nearly every time she gets in the car. Since the Pioneer is rated to 70 lbs. Since the Pioneer is rated to 70 lbs. and in both tests with the weighted 6-year-old ATD (62 lbs.) The tests by Consumer Reports do NOT apply to booster mode use. We would certainly hope newer models are designed to perform well in the type of testing Consumer Reports is conducting as well. with the harness, it was tested again with the weighted 6-year-old ATD (62 lbs.). I already had the pioneer used as a booster in my husbands car. The headrest adjustment and harness support structuresof the Britax Pioneerbroke when tested with the 6-year-old dummy (ATD) who weighs 52 lbs. These could all lead to the head being forward of the side impact wings in a crash, limiting the protection they may offer. Once Consumer Reports has released their full testing, we may have more information and also have some insight on which models they believe to perform better in their more severe testing protocol that goes beyond government standard testing. There are over 350,000 Finales in use and there have been no injuries reported. The company noted that CRs testing varies from NHTSAs standards. Hi Ruth- I assume you mean belt-positioning booster mode? However, the shoulder belt guide on Finale is only required when its necessary to achieve proper belt fit and therefore it can be skipped for many taller kids who dont need it for proper shoulder beltpositioning. I know that doesnt answer your question, but they just dont publish that degree of information. No major roads around me go 30 or 35 miles per hour. In a statement to CR, Harmony stated that its seat meets all current U.S. federal standards. The structure that anchors the tether strap to the shell broke in 3 out of 3 tests with the 6-year-old dummy (ATD). I have a Graco Nautilus 80 3 in 1. How can that possibly compare to a real world crash? I hope that reminder offers you a little piece of mind if you are otherwise happy with your Britax seats. Since the Frontier ClickTight had issues in their testing, it receives only a BASIC rating for crash protection, meaning that it meets all the required and necessary standards from NHTSA (the federal government) but it does not provide greater margins of safety, in their opinion, when tested with the bigger ATDs who weigh more than 50 lbs. Dorel takes the results of the Consumer Reports testing seriously and is currently evaluating the findings, the statement said. Some models have deeper head wings than others, and some have external cushions or impact absorbers as well. Our 5 year olds Frontier 90 is still in harness mode due to not having enough maturity to let her ride in a booster and also the fact that she doesnt meet the minimum weight (only 36 pounds). They chose to use a 2nd row captains chair (with lap/shoulder belt, of course) from a model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex. Also known as harnessed booster seats,harness-2-booster seats, or toddler booster seats, these are forward-facingonly carseats with a 5-point harness that can also be used as a booster seat utilizing the vehicles seatbelt. With the two Britax seats failing around 50lbs, should we also be concerned about other Britax models such as the Marathon or Boulevard failing at that same point? Keep in mind that until the crash test results and full rating of all the combination seats tested in this round are released, we are forced to focus on the limited information we have been provided with so far. Or did the seat break but the child/dummy remained unharmed. We think parents should make their own choice on when to transition to booster mode based on the childs maturity and booster readiness. Also, as we mentioned, these seats all pass federally required testing up to the maximum. Ultimately, there just isnt enough information for us to tell parents exactly what to do or not to do at this time. A 90 pound dummy would pass the US test but not the CA one? Newer versions of Diono convertibles transitioned to a 65-pound weight rating around 2017, so may or may not have been voluntarily tested with the 10-year dummy after that time. I purchased the Britax Pinnacle mainly for the 90lbs limit on harness. Arent those still in use in the booster mode? Especially since we know these models had no issues when tested with the 35-pound ATD. How the results impact a particular situation may vary widely depending on the child, their weight, height and other factors, of course. I am hoping to buy just one final car seat for my kids now that their Britax Advocates are expiring. The headrest adjustment and harness support structures on the Frontier ClickTight broke when tested with the 6-year-old dummy (ATD) who weighs 52 lbs. Unfortunately, I cant comment about the differences that may exist between USA and Canada spec Pioneer models, if any. In each of the tests with the 6-year-old ATD and the weighted 6-year-old ATD, the headrest adjustment and harness support structures broke but the harness did not pull through. Hi Melissa. Combined with a more severe crash pulse, the peak forces on an occupant could even double. Really, the Frontier or Pinnacle are your only options since shes 65 lbs. with the harness, it was tested again with the weighted 6-year-old ATD (62 lbs.). Know Your Rights! Simply, when products are designed to pass multiple types of tests at different impact angles and energies, they are likely to perform better in real-world crashes that can vary even more. All information is provided on an as-is basis for readers in the USA & Canada. Everyone needs to make their own opinion on how to interpret these results. We cant tell you what the best choice in your situation is. Infant car seats, convertible car seats and booster seats for every age and stage, Compact, lightweight and fully-loaded strollers for every lifestyle, Get a Britax car seat & stroller in one convenient box, Safety resources to support you through your journey, Not seeing items youve added? This means that a forward facing harnessed seat cannot be rated higher than 30 kg in Canada. I wish there were a rating system for safety!! Which of those would be the best option? The IIHS runs some new vehicle crash tests at 40mph. UPDATE: March 2019: The Complete Ratings are Now Available. Ive noticed I havent seen them on the market much any more and cant find any recall information on my particular model. This is rather infuriating. Hi Callie, our guidance is in the article. So, we strive to educate and let parents make their own informed decisions when there simply is no black and white answer to cover every situation. Suggesting we switch to the seatbelt if over 40 pounds eliminates the benefits of the Britax seats, which means I spent more for nothing. He says it confortable and he loves the kid console (probably the actual reason of his love ha). Each model was subjected to several different crash tests (using a new seat each time) depending on the weight rating of the product. I can no longer put off getting a seat for my just turned 5 yr old. Some parents and caregivers will lose confidence in the products they are using and others wont. So I just sold my chicco nextfit and am using my sons pioneer for my 3 1/2 year old who is 30 lbs. Copyright 2022 Britax. We stay current and up-to-date in this constantly evolving field so we can educate others. Since the Pioneer had issues in CR testing, it receives only a BASIC rating for crash protection, meaning that it meets all the required and necessary standards from NHTSA (the federal government) but it does not provide greater margins of safety, in their opinion, when tested with the bigger ATDs who weigh more than 50 lbs. The Britax Harness-2-Booster seats are still the only combination seats on the market with harness weight limits above 65 lbs. Im sorry for my bad English . The headrest adjustment and harness support structuresof the Britax Pioneerbroke when tested with the 6-year-old dummy (ATD) who weighs 52 lbs. If harnessing over 65 lbs is not the safest, what seats/boosters provide support to help keep her upright? I think i may need a different seat in that car i have tried so many with the same problem, i cant seam to find a seat in his car that the belt will retract easily or not get stuck or twisted. So, while we cant say which models are SAFEST, we can only give suggestions on ones that are easy to use and tend to allow parents to install them correctly in many vehicles. I have a Diono Pacifica that says it harnesses to 90 lbs forward facing and 50 lbs rear facing, does that mean it too passed FMVSS with a 10 year old dummy? We appreciate your comments and I agree with everything you stated. Maxi-Cosi RodiSport Booster Review: Stylish, Versatile, Comfy, Speed limiter mandate overdue for large trucks, New Hyundai EV earns Top Safety Pick+. Due to these issues,the Cosco Finale receives only a BASIC rating for crash protection, meaning that it meets all the required and necessary standards from NHTSA but it does not provide additional margins of safety, in their opinion, when tested with the bigger ATDs who weigh more than 50 lbs. And I was planning to get my older child a larger combination seat so we can continue using the Diono for extended rear facing but now Im torn as to whether a new rear facing seat would be a better buy and let the older child continue using the Pacifica when harnessed and otherwise use a booster! For most crashes, there should still be little to no risk as the government tests cover the majority, but at a higher-speed crash, there could be additional risk. Similarly, it is impossible to say if there is any absolute number for a real world risk of injury that would deem a model safe or unsafe. This enabled the tether strap to extend, which resulted in increased head excursion (meaning the dummy moved farther forward than it would have otherwise). I have had the worst time finding seats that fit him width wise and with a high enough top harness and weight limit, to warrent purchasing for long term use. If you are under the weight where problems were observed, there is not likely any issue. So, this type of information may be used to indicate which seats perform better relative to other models in the same crash test, but whether or not they they are actually safer is not known. The Pioneer did not exhibit any structural issues when tested with the 3-year-old ATD. Also, its possible that these are designed/intended failure modes as part of a performance-based design process intended to mitigate risk. These are definitely not wimpy seats! Some will look for alternative products while others will continue to use the seats they have. While fatalities certainly occur at these speeds, there is definitely an expectation that vehicles in this scenario should protect their occupants. The Pioneer did not exhibit any structural issues when tested with the 3-year-old ATD. (Finale & Defender) or 70 lbs. The government has minimum requirements, but there are also additional tests including their NCAP 5-star testing (35mph frontal) and a battery of IIHS tests (at least three conducted at 40mph) that go above and beyond the basic federal safety standards. When this news came out, we quickly switched our 47 lb 5-year-old from our Britax Pinnacle CT to a Diono Radian that we had sitting in storage. I own both a frontier and a pioneer seat and this new finding angers me! And I cant decide, ugh. The geometry of the vehicle seat and the stiffness of the seat cushion made it an ideal average of what you can expect to find in modern vehicles. The Britax Pinnacle ClickTight Harness-2-Booster wasnt tested but is very similar to the Frontier model. This was the only seat in all the combination seats Consumer Reports tested that was subjected to testing with the 10-year-old dummy who weighs 78 lbs. Ultimately, its always the parent or caregivers responsibility to make the decisions on how the child will ride in the vehicle. This is definitely not the news anyone wants to hear, but keep in mind that the Britax Frontier CT (and the similar Pinnacle CT model)pass all federal crash test standards when tested with these same ATDs (both the 6-yr-old and the 10-yr-old). Additionally, while we dont know for certain, we anticipate that the Graco Nautilus, Graco Nautilus SnugLock, Evenflo Maestro Sport, Evenflo Transitions/Evolve and Chicco MyFit will all be included in this round of testing. We understand that this news is stressful to parents and caregivers who already own these seats. Hi Angela, most high back boosters have side impact protection for the head built into the head rest. UPDATE: COMPLETE RATINGS NOW AVAILABLE. Ugh The Consumer Reports dynamic sled test was designed with more real-world vehicle conditions in mind. Thesupport hardware on the back of the shell (near the shoulder area) brokein 3 out of 4 tests with the 6-year-old dummy (ATD). In October 2018,Consumer Reports published an article which detailed some of their findings during crash testing of a category of car seats better known as Combination Seats. When this occurred, the harness loosened significantly. My husband is way more decisive than me and he bought the Chicco. So if we planned to switch to the Britax Frontier booster seat as soon as our kids hit the weight and height requirements, these findings would not apply to the booster functionality? We would also like statistically significant information of this type. Hi Jessica, the Pinnacle was not tested by Consumer Reports, though it is very similar to the Frontier overall. We know all carseats sold in the U.S. are required to meet FMVSS 213 standards but we also know all carseats arent the same. Welcome to parenthood! Im not sure what to do moving forward. The reality is that this test protocol from Consumer Reports has been around for over a few years now and many manufacturers internally design and/or test to this protocol, at least to some degree. I just swiched the frontier today to booster mode. However, if you are keeping your neurotypical 8-year-old in the Frontier or Pioneer harness just because he/she still fits, you may want to reconsider. Other times, the child could be leaning forward or have their head titled downward to look at a book or device. It seems like hes only 9lbs lighter than the test where it broke I was hoping to keep both my kids in a 5 point harness as long as possible. Flying with a Car Seat? My 43lb 4.5yr old son sits in the 2015 Boulevard and int he Frontier. Even so, the Frontier is not a good value to use strictly as a belt-positioning booster. If your child is approaching the weight where a model experienced a harness pull through failure, it may be time to consider transitioning to booster use if the child is within the necessary ratings and mature enough to be in a booster, or to find a different model with a 5-point harness. We also do not recommend some Diono models as boosters, due to issues with the shoulder belt guide, especially on those that have integrated head restraints. Since the Pioneer had issues in CR testing, it receives only a BASIC rating for crash protection, meaning that it meets all the required and necessary standards from NHTSA (the federal government) but it does not provide greater margins of safety, in their opinion, when tested with the bigger ATDs who weigh more than 50 lbs. There just isnt any real world data I have seen in regard to how effective they are. The 80 Elite model was one of our Editors Picks and we have a full review here: https://carseatblog.com/41777/. I really like the easy installation on the Frontier, and I think my kids will be mature enough to sit properly once they finally reach 40lbs (they are 7 and 5, but very very skinny!!). Im suprised they arent testing for at least 40 mph and with the cr report a front passenger seat. By developing their own test protocol, the aim was to determine which seats offered anextramargin of safety in certain crash conditions simulated by the new tests. Are there any test results for the Frontier in belted mode? It does appear that some models may not offer as much additional protection as others in crashes that are more severe than minimum requirements. Unfortunately, this testing is proprietary and it is neither independently verified nor is it published in a peer-reviewed journal. CarseatBlog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Do you have any information on this seat? Do we know if the Nautilus was one of the models tested by CR? Every parent or caregiver has to weigh the pros and cons and make decisions based on their personal circumstances. Thanks. . Yeesh! Having only a single type of frontal crash test requirement really is a bare minimum. It just makes sense to test carseats at the same speeds that we test vehicles for crashworthiness. The Frontier CT was not tested with the weighted 6-year-old ATD since its harness capacity is 90 lbs. In this very severe test, the supporting structure around the metal retention bar on the back of the shell broke, and the retention bar and harness pulled through the back of the shell. I dont know the data on what the average speed is during s crash but, what about freeway driving? I do remember that in Sweden for instance they rear face to the max then go to boosters and I wonder if tests like this with more real world parameters is a factor in that decision! There has not yet been any independent verification of these test results and no study on the results is yet published in any peer-reviewed journal. If you already own a Harmony Defender 360: Given that the harness pulled through the shell in 3 of 4 tests at 52-62 pounds, we suggest that parents consider switching their child to booster mode if the child weighs more than 40 pounds, they fit well, and they are mature enough to ride in a booster full-time. Clearly, all these seats are still going to offer good protection in many crashes as they meet or exceed FMVSS testing. If youre shopping for a new carseat: The complete CR crash test results and rating of all the combination seats tested in this round will be released soon (available to subscribers). (I just canceled my order for the pinnacle and need something else asap!). You might consider the less expensive Nautilus models for an older child. Do you know if the Pinancle was tested as well? For the record, there were no issues observed when Consumer Reports tested the Frontier CT with the smaller 3-year-old ATD. I would have no concerns using the harness up to 50 lbs, given the limited information we have. The Defender did not exhibit any structural issues when tested with the 3-year-old ATD. The vehicle seatbelt system provides the restraint in a crash and is not dependent upon the performance of the booster except to make sure the child is positioned correctly. Shes 65lbs and 48 in. Fill in your email address below and well send you a link to quickly reset your password. So, considering the CR testing, is the Frontier less secure than the other two? 2007-2022 Carseat Media LLC, all rights reserved, Consumer Reports Crash Test Findings: Britax Frontier and Pioneer, Cosco Finale, Graco Atlas & Harmony Defender Receive BASIC Rating. Its quite possible the Frontier will be updated at some point. Why havent they just recalled the seat? I know it is not much consolation, but the Frontier platform was designed before Consumer Reports first started using this protocol. All opinions at CarseatBlog are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Some will transition the child to boostermode while others will continue to use the harness. Consumer Reports also chose to run the tests at 35 mph because that is the speed at which vehicles are crash tested in the governments New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). This occurred in both tests with the 6-year-old ATD (52 lbs.) The Britax Harness-2-Boosters tested by Consumer Reports are safe when used as intended and in accordance with the instructions and warnings contained in the user guides. Britax also said the company would continue to stay engaged with Consumer Reports to benefit from their perspective.. Its also the only combination seat on the market that is rated up to 90 lbs. This seems to include Britax, for example, who apparently revised their G4 convertibles that had a similar failure originally in 2015, but have been updated at some point in version G4.1, retested and improved in CRs ratings since then.