Q&A: How to Spot a Counterfeit Car Seat

As families prepare for holiday travel, there’s another item check before getting on the road: your child’s car seat. Experts are warning of counterfeit car seats after seeing an alarming rise in the number of such seats purchased by unknowing parents. These seats are being sold at major online retailers that allow third party sellers, tempting parents with a much lower cost.

Salvador Vargas, child passenger safety technician and program manager of the Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Injury Prevention Program, provides advice to families on how to recognize a fake, as well as other important car seat safety information.

What are counterfeit car seats?

Counterfeit car seats are cheaply made seats that don’t meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). They are life-threatening for children because they’re not designed to hold up in a crash, or don’t offer the same protections as those that meet the federal standards.

We’ve noticed counterfeit car seat harnesses go around the child’s body differently and the seat itself is built differently. That’s the big concern.

What are red flags families can look for to avoid purchasing a counterfeit car seat?

First, families can buy from reputable sellers, either directly from the car seat manufacturer or other major retailers. Buying online from a third-party seller runs the risk that it is a used seat with an unknown history, or a counterfeit car seat.

Second, make sure there are labels and stickers throughout the seat. The Manufacturers Alliance for Passenger Safety also published a guide with what families should look out for.

These labels and stickers look very busy, but that is required by law. FMVSS 213 dictates what qualities the seat has to have to meet crash testing standards. It has to say the car seat passed federal safety standards here in the U.S.

A car seat that has passed federal safety standards in the United States includes the following:

A manual with instructions for installation

Label with model name or number

Manufacturing label with name, address phone number, and the date of manufacture and/or expiration dates

Labeling with specific child height and weight limits, an airbag warning label for rear-facing car seats and a statement that the car seat conforms to standards for use in an aircraft (if the seat is certified for use on a plane)

Registration cards

Another red flag to look for is whether there are spelling or grammatical errors on the stickers or in the manual. It’s simple things like that, but the easiest way to identify it is if there are certain labels missing on the seat. The best way to do this would be at a physical store.

This also applies to seats for 6- to 8-year-olds too. When kids get older, we tend to think that they’re going to be safer. But by law, in California, children have to be in a car seat or booster seat at least until they’re 8 years old or 4’ 9”. That’s to ensure the seatbelt fits them correctly. Those also have to pass federal safety standards.

What are the dangers of using expired car seats?

You shouldn’t use expired car seat because it might not protect your child in a crash. Car seats expire for a number of reasons, including the following:

The materials, such as the plastics, can breakdown over time, especially when exposed to sun.

They may not meet the most recent safety standards.

Just like anything else that gets used regularly, they wear down over time too.

Can I use a used car seat?

The main thing with secondhand car seats is to know who you get it from. There have been instances where someone finds a car seat on the side of the road, cleans it up, and sells it online or at a yard sale. You’re definitely not going to know the history of that seat.

However, a friend or family member is going to be willing to share whether it’s been in a crash. This is important because like bike helmets, after one crash, they have to be replaced. Sometimes there are cracks or breaks within the shell that aren’t visible on the exterior that can compromise how the seat performs in a second collision. That’s why, as a rule, we tell families to replace the seat regardless of how severe the crash was.

Where can I find information on how to properly install car seats?

You can schedule an appointment with a local child passenger safety technician to get your seats checked out in advance of your trip. SafeKids.org has a search function to find a local technician. You can also call your local California Highway Patrol office as they offer free car seat inspections. Our team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford or your local children’s hospital can help too.