Car Seat Registration

One of our most important goals here at NHTSA is to make sure motor vehicles and car seats meet all Federal Safety Standards. Sometimes a motor vehicle or piece of vehicle safety equipment, such as a car seat or booster seat, doesn’t comply with these required safety standards—or there’s a safety-related defect. When this happens, a recall may occur so the manufacturer can fix the problem.

We know you, as a parent or caregiver, want to do everything possible to make sure your child is safe in the car. Yet very few people ever register their car and booster seats so they can receive recall notices!

Registering your seat makes sense: It gives the manufacturer the ability to contact you about recalls and safety notices. It’s also easy: Just send in the card that came with your car seat or fill out a simple form on the manufacturer’s Web site. Your child’s safety could depend on it.

Car Seat Recalls

Manufacturers Are Required to Notify You of a Recall

In addition to registering your car seat, sign up to receive e-mail alerts about car seat and booster seat recalls from NHTSA.

When You Discover a Car Seat or Booster Seat Recall

Find out which models and manufacture dates are involved.
Call the manufacturer or visit their Web site for more information and to verify if your car seat or booster seat has been recalled; or
Call NHTSA’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Before You Call, Have the Following Information

Manufacturer’s Name
Model Name
Model Number
Date of Manufacture

If Your Car Seat is Recalled, Get it Fixed Right Away

If you don’t have another car seat or booster seat to use, keep using the recalled seat while you wait for the repair kit—if the recall notice says you can. Using a recalled car seat or booster seat is almost always safer than letting a child ride in just a seat belt. Many problems are minor, but some are serious. All problems should be fixed as soon as possible.

If you would like NHTSA to provide your child restraint registration information to the manufacturer, please fill out this Registration Form and mail it to the address below. You may also e-mail or fax it if you choose.

U. S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation
Correspondence Research Division (NVS-216)
Room W48-301
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.
Washington, DC 20590
Fax: (202) 366-1767
E-mail: childseatregister@dot.gov

Related Resources

Source: NHTSA. “Car Seat Registration” http://www.safercar.gov website. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/Car-Seat-Recalls-Registration.htm

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