How to check a car seat for recalls (and register it)

A vehicle VIN check will not tell you whether your child’s car seat or booster has been recalled. You need to register that seat with the manufacturer and check NHTSA’s equipment lookup. Here is how to do both, and how to get official alerts if a recall is announced later.

Updated November 13, 2026. Facts checked against NHTSA.

Quick answer

Register the car seat with its manufacturer — mail the card that came with the seat, or use the manufacturer’s website — so the company can contact you about recalls and safety notices. Also search for car-seat recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, add the seat to NHTSA’s free SaferCar app, and sign up for email notices at NHTSA.gov/Alerts. If you cannot register the seat, email NHTSA.ODI.ced@dot.gov.

Why registration matters

NHTSA tells parents to register the seat after it is chosen and installed, so the child can remain safe if a recall or safety notice is issued. The manufacturer can then contact you directly. NHTSA’s owner booklet explains that manufacturers of motor vehicle equipment — particularly tires, car seats, and boosters — keep lists of owners who have registered their products, and they use those lists to notify owners when a recall is initiated. They may also have to use advertisements, point-of-purchase posters, or other public notice so as many owners as possible hear about the recall.

If you skipped the card in the box, you can still register on the manufacturer’s website. If you are unable to register with the manufacturer, NHTSA says to contact the agency at NHTSA.ODI.ced@dot.gov.

Check NHTSA for car-seat recalls

At nhtsa.gov/recalls you can search for car seats, tires, or other equipment — not only vehicles. NHTSA says that kind of search returns general results for recalls, investigations, complaints, and manufacturer communications. It is not the same as a VIN search, which tells you whether a specific vehicle still has an unrepaired safety recall.

If you are unsure whether your car seat or booster is recalled, NHTSA also says you may contact the manufacturer, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, or visit NHTSA.gov. If a recall is open, contact the manufacturer and, as NHTSA’s March 2026 consumer alert also advises, the retailer where you purchased the item. For recalled equipment, the manufacturer may repair it, replace it, or refund the purchase price, at no charge.

NHTSA recommends checking recalls twice a year, even after you have registered.

Get automatic alerts

Registration with the manufacturer is the official way that company reaches you. You can add two NHTSA alert methods on top of that:

SaferCar app. Download the free app, then add the car seat (you can also add vehicles, tires, and other equipment). When SaferCar finds a recall for something you entered, it sends an alert to your device. NHTSA says the app stores your information on your device, not at NHTSA, and that NHTSA does not sell that information. The app’s published compatibility is iOS 17 and Android 7.0 and above. Keep the app available in the background if you want it to check automatically (NHTSA says that check happens about once a day). After a car-seat recall is resolved, mark it as completed in the app so the alert is cleared.
Email notices. Sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts for NHTSA’s recall-notification email system, which covers vehicle and vehicle-equipment recalls, including car seats and boosters.

If you think the seat has a defect that is not recalled

File a complaint with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. NHTSA’s examples of safety-related defects include car seats and booster seats with defective straps, buckles, or components that create a risk of injury in a crash. How to report a safety problem.

Installation and inspection (official help)

Recalls are only one part of using a seat safely. NHTSA’s car seats and booster seats page has official installation instructions and videos, and it explains how to get a car seat inspected. Certified technicians will inspect a seat free of charge in most cases, and some locations offer virtual inspections. If you cannot find a nearby station, NHTSA notes you may be able to find a technician through Safe Kids Worldwide. Always follow the seat manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual for height and weight limits and for installation with the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether.

If you are considering a second-hand seat, use the used-car-seat safety checklist on that same NHTSA page rather than relying on informal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is a recalled car seat repaired for free?

For recalled equipment, including car seats and boosters, NHTSA says the manufacturer may repair it, replace it, or refund the purchase price, at no charge to the consumer. NHTSA also tells owners to contact the retailer where they bought the item.

I never sent in the registration card. Can I still register?

Yes. NHTSA says you can send in the card that came with the seat or complete a registration on the manufacturer’s website. If you cannot register the seat with the manufacturer, contact NHTSA at NHTSA.ODI.ced@dot.gov.

Does the VIN lookup find car-seat recalls?

The license-plate and VIN search is for a specific vehicle’s unrepaired safety recalls. For car seats, tires or other equipment, use NHTSA’s recall lookup and search for that equipment. You will get general results for recalls, investigations, complaints and manufacturer communications. Registering the seat and adding it in the SaferCar app is how you get notices about that seat.

How often should I recheck?

NHTSA recommends registering your vehicle, tires, car seats and equipment, and checking recalls twice a year.

Sources

MotorDeets is not affiliated with NHTSA or any car-seat manufacturer. Confirm recalls for your own seat with the manufacturer and on nhtsa.gov, and follow the official owner or manufacturer instructions.