Counterfeit car parts are a growing concern, but Michigan officials are warning of something even scarier – counterfeit car seats.
According to state officials, there are a “growing number of counterfeit car seats being sold by online retailers.” While they may look fine, these knockoffs might not provide enough protection to keep your children safe.
To help consumers, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (MOHSP) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are offering tips on how to identify counterfeit car seats. As part of this effort, they released a list of “red flags” including a missing five-point harness with a chest clip – except for booster seats.
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Other red flags are a lack of “mandatory information including minimum and maximum height and weight in English” as well as the name, model number, and manufacturing date of the seat. The departments also said genuine seats should have a statement saying “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.”
If consumers receive a counterfeit seat, they’re advised to return it and report the item to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has a dedicated car seat complaint form. If the seller doesn’t require or accept returns, consumers are advised not to donate the seat and to effectively destroy it by removing the padding as well as cutting the harness straps.
MOHSP’s Katie Bower said “Counterfeit car seats are made of cheaper, flimsier materials that are unable to withstand the forces that occur in a crash. These car seats are not federally regulated in the U.S. and are not safe to use for your children.” She added motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for young children.
MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel echoed her concerns by saying, “Even parents that do extensive research can be easily fooled by … unsafe lookalikes or tricked into purchasing car seats that do not meet U.S. regulations or safety standards.” She went on to say price isn’t always an indicator as some counterfeit car seats have “high-end price tags.”
One of the best ways to avoid counterfeits is to buy from reputable companies such as Target and Walmart. Amazon also lists countless car seats online, but you might want to stick to those sold by Amazon themselves.
