Illegal Car Seats Resurface Online a Decade After Recall

Illegal car seats that failed to meet safety standards are still being sold online, ten years after their initial recall. Consumer watchdog Which? has discovered over a dozen examples of these hazardous products available on various online marketplaces, including eBay, Little Dreams, ManoMano, Shein, and Wish.com. The findings raise serious concerns about the safety of children in vehicles, particularly as families navigate rising living costs.

The problematic car seats were first identified in 2014 and removed from sale due to their unsafe design. Despite this, Which? has re-identified these seats online, with prices ranging from £12.50 to just under £40, considerably lower than the standard price of around £80. Previous warnings from Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards have branded these products as “killer car seats.”

Concerns regarding the safety defects of these seats are serious. They feature a thin base and lack a central point of release for the harness, which is essential for proper seat belt positioning. Additionally, these seats do not provide adequate side impact protection, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an accident. The car seats also lack the distinctive orange labels that signify compliance with safety regulations. In the UK, child car seats must display either an R44 or R129 regulation label to be legally sold.

Even as eBay listings identify these products as car seats, they often include disclaimers about their unsuitability for use in vehicles. For example, one listing cautioned against using the seat in “high-speed cars,” recommending instead that it be used in non-motorised products. This contradictory information adds to the confusion for consumers seeking safe options for their children.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, emphasized the alarming nature of these findings. “It is appalling that these deadly car seats are reappearing on online marketplaces more than a decade after Which? first exposed them,” she stated. “Children’s lives will be at risk, with less affluent households most likely to be affected, until online marketplaces are forced to take responsibility for the listing of these cheap but deadly car seats.”

The recent enforcement of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act marks an important step towards improving product safety laws, but Davies called for additional regulations to impose clear responsibilities on online platforms.

Concerns about the prevalence of illegal car seats extend beyond online listings. PC Rachael Wonfor from Warwickshire Police reported significant issues during recent car seat checking events. “I was shocked to find a high number of fitting errors and inappropriate seats for children’s sizes,” she said. “One parent mistakenly believed that a harness-type system was legal, purchased online, but it would offer no protection in a crash.”

Responses from the affected companies indicate a commitment to consumer safety. An eBay spokesperson stated, “Consumer safety is a top priority for eBay. We work diligently to prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits and AI-supported monitoring.” They noted that when notified, the listings were swiftly removed, and buyers were alerted.

Meanwhile, Shein acknowledged that one of the mislabelled products had been sold by a third-party seller and was removed promptly upon notification. “Shein takes product safety very seriously,” a representative said, emphasizing the company’s adherence to safety standards and regulations.

Requests for comments from Wish.com and ManoMano regarding the ongoing issue of illegal car seats went unanswered.

The persistence of these unsafe car seats on online marketplaces highlights the need for stronger regulations and enforcement mechanisms to protect consumers, particularly vulnerable families. As Which? continues to advocate for product safety, the focus remains on ensuring that children have access to safe transportation options.