Millions of Graco child car seats recalled

Graco, which is owned by Newell Rubbermaid, is recalling 3.8 million child car seats after some were found to possess faulty latches that can trap children inside. However, federal safety regulators are calling on the company to recall an additional 1.8 million infant car seats, which have been the subject of similar complaints.

Graco is resisting the agency's orders, stating that only a tiny fraction of customers had trouble with the buckles, and that those cases were the result of spilled foods and liquid making the buckles sticky over time. The infant seats would not be subject to these effects, said the company, which has been offering customers replacement buckles and cleaning tips for their child seats.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a letter to the company Tuesday, stating that the defect could make it "difficult to remove the child from the restraint, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash, fire or other emergency." Moreover, "some of these consumers have had no choice but to resort to the extreme measure of cutting the harness straps to remove their child from the car seat."

The recall includes 11 models of car seats manufactured between 2009 and 2013. The agency has been investigating the matter since October 2012, during which time it has received a total of 80 complaints, and is considering holding a public hearing.

"NHTSA strongly disagrees with the language and content of Graco's Part 573 Report, which is incomplete and misleading, to both the agency and consumers," said the statement.

According to the NHTSA, this is the fourth-largest child seat recall in U.S. history.