Manufactured products, such as car seats can be recalled on
occasion. Often, the recall is simple and only requires a basic fix – a new
label or an updated manual. If this happens, you can continue to use the
product while the fix is obtained. However, recalls can also be more serious
and/or even life threatening, in which case you need to stop the use of the
product. So, it’s important that you
take a minute or two (literally, it’s that easy) to register your child’s car
seat for important recall and safety notices – those five minutes can make a
significant difference in your child’s life.
occasion. Often, the recall is simple and only requires a basic fix – a new
label or an updated manual. If this happens, you can continue to use the
product while the fix is obtained. However, recalls can also be more serious
and/or even life threatening, in which case you need to stop the use of the
product. So, it’s important that you
take a minute or two (literally, it’s that easy) to register your child’s car
seat for important recall and safety notices – those five minutes can make a
significant difference in your child’s life.
Registering Your Child’s Car Seat
When you purchase a car seat, the manufacturer will provide
you a registration card. Just fill it out and return it to the manufacturer.
This way the manufacturer knows how to get a hold of you in case they need to
send an alert for a potential recall that could affect the performance of your
child’s car seat.
you a registration card. Just fill it out and return it to the manufacturer.
This way the manufacturer knows how to get a hold of you in case they need to
send an alert for a potential recall that could affect the performance of your
child’s car seat.
Here’s the four pieces of information that you will need to
complete the registration card:
complete the registration card:
·
Manufacturer’s name (Example: Graco, Orbit Baby, Peg Perego, RECARO, etc)
Manufacturer’s name (Example: Graco, Orbit Baby, Peg Perego, RECARO, etc)
·
Model Name (ComfortSport, Ready Ride, Classic
Ride, SnugRide 35, etc)
Model Name (ComfortSport, Ready Ride, Classic
Ride, SnugRide 35, etc)
·
Date of Manufacturer (Example Label says
“Manufactured in” )
Date of Manufacturer (Example Label says
“Manufactured in” )
·
Model number (Examples include: 8643CDR2, 317147P1, 1794334)
Model number (Examples include: 8643CDR2, 317147P1, 1794334)
You can find this information on the car seat label.
Complete the form, fill out your name and address and just drop it in the mail.
Complete the form, fill out your name and address and just drop it in the mail.
Registering a Car Seat Sans Registration Card
Did you purchase a used
car seat without a registration card?
(Be careful, we advise against it!) However, perhaps you set your car
keys down along with the registration card and now you’ve misplaced it, or lost
it. It happens! Don’t sweat it; you can still register your car seat sans
registration card.
car seat without a registration card?
(Be careful, we advise against it!) However, perhaps you set your car
keys down along with the registration card and now you’ve misplaced it, or lost
it. It happens! Don’t sweat it; you can still register your car seat sans
registration card.
You can complete the same information online by going to the manufacturer’s website or safercar.gov.
Here are several links to some car
seat manufacturers’ online registration forms:
seat manufacturers’ online registration forms:
- Alpha Elite or Alpha Sport
- Baby Trend
- Britax
- Chicco
- Clek Inc.
- Combi
- Cosco
- Compass
- Dorel
- Eddie Bauer
- Evenflo
- The First Years
- Graco
- Harmony
- Orbit Baby
- Peg Perego
- Safety 1st
- Radian
- RECARO
- Regal Lager
- Sunshine Kids
- Summer
If you’re still a pen and paper,
old-fashioned snail-mail kind of individual, you can still mail the
registration information directly to your manufacturer. Simply send them your
name, current mailing address, manufacturer’s name, date of manufacture, model
number, and model name (if known). If you can’t locate the address to send the
information, you can also mail it to the National Highway Traffic and Safety
Administration. They even provide a registration form that you can print. They will
handle and forward the registration to the appropriate company on your behalf.
old-fashioned snail-mail kind of individual, you can still mail the
registration information directly to your manufacturer. Simply send them your
name, current mailing address, manufacturer’s name, date of manufacture, model
number, and model name (if known). If you can’t locate the address to send the
information, you can also mail it to the National Highway Traffic and Safety
Administration. They even provide a registration form that you can print. They will
handle and forward the registration to the appropriate company on your behalf.
You can send them the information
or the form at following address:
or the form at following address:
U.S. Department of
Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of
Defects Investigation, Correspondence Research Division (NVS-216),
Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of
Defects Investigation, Correspondence Research Division (NVS-216),
Room W48-301, 1200
New Jersey Avenue S.E.,
New Jersey Avenue S.E.,
Washington, DC
20590.
20590.
You may also call the manufacturer
or get a hold of a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) who will have a
generic form that can be filled out and sent to register car seats.
or get a hold of a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) who will have a
generic form that can be filled out and sent to register car seats.
Moved? Update your Information
If you have moved after you registered your car seat, make
sure you reach out to the manufacturer to update your information. You can do
this in the same manner as “sans registration card”. By law, manufacturers are
required to send out notices in the mail, so make sure that they have your
correct address.
sure you reach out to the manufacturer to update your information. You can do
this in the same manner as “sans registration card”. By law, manufacturers are
required to send out notices in the mail, so make sure that they have your
correct address.
You can also opt to receive emails for all car seat recalls.
Again, safercar.gov provides a list for
all car seat recalls (including those you have not registered). And take
advantage of free resources, such as local companies like
this one that offer free car seat inspection.
Again, safercar.gov provides a list for
all car seat recalls (including those you have not registered). And take
advantage of free resources, such as local companies like
this one that offer free car seat inspection.
Remember, in 2015 over six million car seats were recalled
by manufacturers. Yet fewer than half of those car seats received the necessary
repair, according to an article on The Huffington Post, “A
Message to Parents with Kids in Car Seats.” Graco has also recently issued
a recall for 25,000 plus Graco My Ride 65 convertible car seats due
to the harness webbing possibly not adequately restraining a child in an
accident. You can check all the current
recalls online. But again, I can’t stress enough how important it is that
you register your child’s car seat for possible recall and safety notices.
by manufacturers. Yet fewer than half of those car seats received the necessary
repair, according to an article on The Huffington Post, “A
Message to Parents with Kids in Car Seats.” Graco has also recently issued
a recall for 25,000 plus Graco My Ride 65 convertible car seats due
to the harness webbing possibly not adequately restraining a child in an
accident. You can check all the current
recalls online. But again, I can’t stress enough how important it is that
you register your child’s car seat for possible recall and safety notices.
Author: Amber Louchart
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats.
She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment. She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.
