How to Find Out If a Babyseat Has Been Recalled

Make sure your baby's car seat is safe.

Companies should manufacture baby products to be safe and effective. If you have a baby seat product that you suspect may be defective, you can visit government websites to check if your product is on a recall list. If a product is deemed unsafe or has the potential to put your baby at risk, you should stop using the product immediately. Organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) monitor recalled baby seats.

Instructions

1. Visit the NHTSA website to see which baby seats are on product recall lists. On the NHTSA homepage, you can view a list of the latest recalled products and search to see if your product is off the market.

2. Go to the Recalls website. You can click on the link "Recent Recalls" or you can click on the link "Search Recalls" to research recalled baby seats.

3. Sign up on the Recalls website to receive free email messages notifying you of product recalls. You can learn about baby seat recalls if you sign up through the Recalls website to receive alerts from the NHTSA or the CPSC. You can also sign up for the Recalls mobile phone application that allows you to type a product number into your phone and learn if there is a recall placed on your product.

4. Visit the CPSC website and click on the link to "Search Recalls." Search by month, year, product type or company to see if your product is defective. In addition to searching for your product, you can click on the link, "child products (not including toys)," to access a list of infant/child product recalls.

Tips & Warnings

• Another website you can visit is the Safe Car website to look up baby seat recalls.

• If you know of a recalled product that is still available for sale on the web, you can email the CPSC on their Recalls web page. The NHTSA website also allows you to report a defective baby seat. You can file a complaint online with the NHTSA or you can contact them at 888-327-4236.

References

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Search for Recalls
• Recalls: Join Agency Subscription Lists
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; Recalls and Product Safety News; 2011
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Infant/Child Product Recalls

Resources

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Homepage
• Recalls: Homepage
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Homepage