The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regularly issues safety-based recalls for defective vehicles, car-related equipment and child car seats. In fact, according to the NHTSA, it announced roughly 55 million recalls in 2020 alone.
As a concerned and caring parent, you understand the importance of using an age-, height- and weight-appropriate car seat for the young passenger in your family. Still, your child’s car seat may have an outstanding recall you simply do not know exists.
The SaferCar app
The NHTSA has released its SaferCar app, which you can download through your favorite app store. This free app makes it a breeze to check for both vehicle and car seat recalls. To do so, you input information about your child’s car seat, including its manufacturer and model number.
If your search reveals an unaddressed recall, you should see an immediate notice about your next steps. These may include taking the car seat for repairs or discarding it. Either way, it is critical to address the recall promptly.
The manufacturer of the car seat
Vehicle manufacturers usually contact owners when their car, trucks or SUVs have recalls. That typically does not happen with child car seats, unfortunately. Unless you reach out to the seat’s manufacturer, you may not know whether the car seat you are currently using is safe for your child.
Many car seat manufacturers publish recall information on their websites. If you are curious about your child’s car seat, you may want to check there. Alternatively, you can probably call the manufacturer’s customer service number or send an e-mail to find out about potential recalls.
Ultimately, it may be advisable to check for recalls every six months or so. After all, when it comes to your child’s safety, you cannot be too careful.
