Quick Answer
To check whether your car seat is recalled, find the model number, serial number and date of manufacture on the label on the seat shell, then search the NHTSA recall database (nhtsa.gov/recalls) or the manufacturer’s recall page. The largest recent recalls include Britax (about 114,660 B-Safe and Endeavours infant seats, August 2026, carry handle screw), Evenflo (several 2025–2026 recalls covering roughly 460,000 seats for headrest foam, a shifting recline and a missing tether strap) and Graco (SnugRide Turn & Slide, April 2026, carrier may detach from base). Remedies are free; register your seat so you get future notices automatically.
Key Takeaways
- Check by model, serial number and manufacture date at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the brand’s recall page; a model name alone is not enough.
- Britax (Aug 2026): B-Safe Gen2, Gen2 FlexFit/Plus, B-Safe 35, B-Safe Ultra, Endeavours; handle screw can loosen. Remedy was in development; carry by the shell.
- Graco (Apr 2026): SnugRide Turn & Slide and Modes Nest travel systems, ~5,100 units; carrier may detach from base. Free replacement; install baseless meanwhile.
- Evenflo (Jan 2026): ~64,000 seats missing a tether strap; (Dec 2025): ~74,700 seats whose recline can shift; (Sep 2025): ~325,000 seats with headrest foam choking hazard.
- Dorel/Cosco/Safety 1st (Apr 2025): ~180,000 seats, headrest foam choking hazard.
- Registering the seat with the manufacturer is the only way to be notified automatically.
Car seat recalls are more common than most parents realize, and because seats are often bought secondhand or handed down, many recalled seats are still in use with no one aware. The fix is nearly always free and often simple, but only if you know about it. This guide lists the significant 2025–2026 child seat recalls reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, explains exactly how to check a seat, and walks through registration so future notices reach you. New recalls are issued throughout the year; treat this as a starting point and confirm on NHTSA’s site.
2025–2026 Child Car Seat Recalls at a Glance
| Date | Manufacturer | Products | Units | Defect | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | Britax | B-Safe Gen2, Gen2 FlexFit, FlexFit Plus, B-Safe 35, B-Safe Ultra, Endeavours infant seats | ~114,660 | Carry handle screw may loosen; handle can partially detach, child may fall | Under development at notice; owner letters by Oct 2026; call 888-427-4829 |
| Apr 2026 | Graco | SnugRide Turn & Slide infant seats; Modes Nest travel systems with that seat | ~5,126 | Carrier may detach from base in a crash (FMVSS 213) | Free replacement seat; install with vehicle belt without base until then; 1-800-345-4109 |
| Apr 2026 | Chrysler (FCA) | Vehicle child-seat tether anchors (not a seat) | 32 | Insufficient welds on tether anchors (FMVSS 225) | Dealer repair |
| Jan 2026 | Evenflo | Certain convertible / all-in-one seats (Titan family per filings) | ~64,031 | Seat shipped without a top tether strap | Free tether kit |
| Dec 2025 | Evenflo | Certain seats | ~74,710 | Recline position may shift (FMVSS 213) | Free repair / replacement part |
| Sep 2025 | Evenflo | Certain seats | ~324,997 | Headrest foam may detach, choking hazard | Free replacement headrest / foam retention fix |
| Apr 2025 | Dorel Juvenile (Cosco, Safety 1st, Maxi-Cosi) | Certain seats | ~179,845 | Headrest foam may detach, choking hazard | Free remedy kit |
| Feb 2025 | Columbus Trading-Partners (Cybex) | Certain seats | ~23,273 | Harness strap may detach from seat | Free replacement part |
Unit counts and dates are from NHTSA filings. Specific model numbers are listed in each manufacturer’s recall report; the table gives families and product lines.
How to Check Your Car Seat in Five Minutes
- Find the label. It is on the back or underside of the seat shell and lists the manufacturer, model number, serial number and date of manufacture.
- Search NHTSA. Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls, choose the Car Seats tab, and enter the brand and model. NHTSA lists every recall with the affected date range and the remedy.
- Check the manufacturer’s page. Britax, Graco, Evenflo, Chicco, Nuna, Cybex, Dorel and others keep a recall page where you can enter the serial number for a yes/no answer.
- Compare the manufacture date. Most recalls cover a range of production dates, so a seat with the right model number may still be unaffected.
- Request the remedy. Order the free kit, replacement part or seat; keep using the seat as instructed (some notices say stop using the seat, others give an interim workaround).
Register Your Seat
Federal law requires every car seat to come with a registration card, and manufacturers must notify registered owners of recalls. Fill in the card or register online with the model number, serial number and your address. It takes two minutes and is the only reliable way to hear about a future recall. Secondhand seats can be registered by the new owner. If you have moved, update the address with the manufacturer.
Secondhand and Hand-Me-Down Seats
A used seat carries three risks: an unknown crash history, an expired shell (most seats expire six to ten years after manufacture, printed on the label) and an unaddressed recall. If you accept a used seat from someone you trust, check the expiry date, inspect for cracks and missing parts, run the serial number through the manufacturer’s recall tool, and register it in your name. Avoid seats from strangers or garage sales entirely; the history cannot be verified.
What a Recall Does and Does Not Mean
A recall means the seat has a defect that could affect safety, not that it has failed. Many remedies are small: a replacement screw, a tether strap, a headrest foam clip. The notice will say whether to stop using the seat immediately or whether an interim method (such as installing an infant seat without its base) is acceptable. Follow the notice exactly. All remedies are free under federal law, including shipping, and a manufacturer cannot require proof of purchase for a safety recall.
Brands With No Current Recalls
As of the filings above, brands such as Chicco, Nuna, UPPAbaby, Clek and Diono had no open 2025–2026 child-seat recalls in the NHTSA database, though all have had recalls in earlier years. The absence of a recall is not a safety rating; it reflects that no defect was reported in the period. Check any brand’s seat the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if my car seat is recalled?
Find the model number, serial number and manufacture date on the seat label, then search nhtsa.gov/recalls or the manufacturer’s recall page. The date range matters as much as the model.
Which car seats were recalled in 2026?
Major 2026 recalls include Britax B-Safe Gen2/35/Ultra and Endeavours infant seats (handle screw), Graco SnugRide Turn & Slide (carrier detachment) and an Evenflo recall for a missing tether strap. Several large Evenflo and Dorel recalls were issued in 2025.
Is a recalled car seat safe to use?
It depends on the notice. Some recalls allow continued use with a workaround until the fix arrives; others say stop using the seat. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the recall letter.
Do I have to pay for a car seat recall fix?
No. Under federal law the remedy, whether a part, a kit or a replacement seat, is free, including shipping, and proof of purchase is not required.
How do I register my car seat?
Use the postcard that came with the seat or the manufacturer’s website, entering the model number, serial number, manufacture date and your address. Registration is how you receive future recall notices.
Conclusion
Checking a car seat for recalls takes five minutes with the label and NHTSA’s database, and registering it takes two more and covers you for the life of the seat. The 2025–2026 list is dominated by a few large Evenflo, Dorel, Britax and Graco recalls with simple free fixes, which is exactly why it is worth looking: a loose handle screw or a missing tether strap is easy to correct once you know about it. Check now, register, and recheck whenever a seat changes hands.
