Consumer group Which? is advising parents about safety failures identified in two child car seats following rigorous crash tests. The Axkid Minikid Core and the Britax Römer Baby-Safe Pro + Vario Base 5Z were found to have significant issues during testing.
During frontal impact tests, the Axkid Minikid Core, when installed rearward-facing with a dummy representing a six-year-old, showed its support leg retracting. In a reclined position, the harness also broke, leading to the crash test dummy becoming unrestrained. Axkid has stated that later testing identified results that do not meet all of its stringent requirements, leading to a voluntary recall and free replacements for affected Minikid Core seats.
The Britax Römer Baby-Safe Pro + Vario Base 5Z, when tested in a reclined, rearward-facing position with an 18-month-old dummy, experienced a harness buckle failure. This caused the dummy to come loose. Which? recommends not using this seat with the Isofix Vario Base 5Z in a reclined position until the manufacturer resolves the issue. However, it is considered safe if used upright or installed with the vehicle's seatbelt without the base.
Axkid attributes the support-leg failure to excessive seat movement and states the harness-buckle finding has not occurred in its own tests. Britax Römer is investigating the issue, noting that its own tests under similar conditions showed no abnormalities. The company also highlighted that the harness buckle is a widely used industry-standard part.