Nuna Baby Essentials announced a voluntary recall of Rava convertible car seats because debris can get into the harness, preventing it from buckling tightly around your baby.

The Rava seat fits rear-facing children under age 2 weighing up to 50 pounds and forward-facing riders 2 and up who weigh up to 65 pounds. This recall impacts 600,000 car seats made from July 16, 2016, to October 25, 2023, that have an exposed plastic buckle adjuster button, according to a statement from the company.

“The defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, is a result of debris entering the area where the front harness adjuster button is located,” Nuna shares in its recall statement. The car seat is still safe to use if the harness is functioning properly as described in the manufacturer’s instructions.

What to Expect has reached out to Nuna for further comment and will update this story if additional information is shared. In the meantime, here’s what to know about the Nuna Rava recall and how to make sure your car seat is safe the next time you go for a drive with your baby.

What to know about the Rava car seat recall

Nuna voluntarily issued the recall, and no injuries or fatalities have occurred – this is just a precautionary step to prevent any babies from getting hurt. Parents don’t have to throw away or replace any affected Rava convertible seats. They simply have to order a free kit (more on that below) and clean the seat so that the harness works properly in the event of an accident.

If crumbs get into the adjuster button — and, let’s face it, there are likely some of them in your child’s car seat — that could make it less secure: “The debris may cause the teeth of the adjuster mechanism to no longer properly clamp onto the adjuster strap, resulting in the harness no longer remaining tight,” the Nuna recall notice states. “A loose harness may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.”

How to tell if your car seat is recalled

Newer Rava car seats made since November 2023 aren’t included in the recall – they have a fabric cover that goes over the adjuster button and helps keep it clean. The ones in the recall were made between July 16, 2016, to October 25, 2023, and the plastic harness button is clearly visible and exposed.

The affected model numbers are:

• CS-50-001 CAVIAR
• CS-50-002 INDIGO
• CS-50-003 BERRY
• CS-50-004 BLACKBERRY
• CS-50-004 BLACKBERRY
• CS-50-005 SLATE
• CS05101CHCCHARCOAL
• CS05103CVRCAVIAR
• CS05103FRTFROST
• CS05103GRNGRANITE
• CS05103LAKLAKE
• CS05103OXFOXFORD
• CS05103ROSROSE
• CS05115DDCDROPLET DOT COLLECTION
• CS05105BACBROKEN ARROW CAVIAR
• CS05106BRSBRUSHSTROKE
• CS05107RFDREFINED
• CS05109RVTRIVETED
• CS05110LGNLAGOON
• CS05110EDGEDGEHILL
• CS05111OCNOCEAN
• CS05114CRDCURATED
• CS05104THRTHREADED

You can find the model number on a Nuna Rava seat by uninstalling it (sorry!) and checking the label on the underside. Make sure you reinstall your car seat according to the manufacturer’s instructions once you’re done.

You’ll know that the car seat is safe to use by conducting what Nuna is calling the harness function test. To do this, buckle the harness, then push on the back of the empty seat (without your child in it) while simultaneously pulling the harness straps forward firmly. When the release button is not pressed, the harness should feel and stay secure. Once your baby is in the seat, you could repeat this test in the same way you would do a harness pinch test (as directed in the instruction manual) to make sure the straps remain snug.

What to do if you own the recalled Rava car seat

If you have a recalled Nuna Rava car seat, you can continue using it as long as your harness buckle is latching properly. (Test this by following the steps above.) Since this issue is caused by debris entering the front harness adjuster button, it’s possible that your harness is not impacted.

However, Nuna is providing all car seat owners with a free remedy kit including a new seat pad, cleaning kit and care instructions, upon request. Knowing how messy car seats can get, especially as your baby grows into a cracker-eating toddler, it’s worth ordering this kit now. You’ll want to ensure that the car seat’s harness adjuster stays clean and works correctly now and in the future. (The Nuna Rava seat protects kids who weigh up to 65 pounds!)

If you registered your car seat upon purchase, you’ll receive notices in the mail explaining how to get this remedy kit. If your car seat isn’t registered or you moved since registering without updating your address, you can fill out a form on the Nuna site, email info.usa@nunababy.com or call 1-855-686-2891 to request a seat pad and cleaning kit.