This is a recall you don’t want to scroll past.
NHTSA just announced that Evenflo — yeah, one of the most recognizable names in car seats — is recalling child seats because the headrest can shift position during a crash. Not after. During. When it actually matters most.
Injuries have been reported. So if you have an Evenflo seat in your car right now, keep reading.
What exactly is the Evenflo headrest recall about?
The headrest on certain Evenflo child seats may not stay in place during a crash, which means the seat isn’t meeting FMVSS 213 — the federal safety standard that governs child restraint systems in the U.S. FMVSS 213 exists specifically to make sure a seat performs the way it’s supposed to when a collision happens. If the headrest shifts, it can fail to properly support and protect your child’s head and neck at the exact moment they need it.
NHTSA flagged this and Evenflo is conducting the recall. This isn’t a “might be slightly off” situation. Injuries have been reported in connection with this issue.
Which Evenflo seats are affected?
Evenflo hasn’t cornered itself into one product line — the brand makes everything from infant carriers to convertible seats to boosters. So the first thing you need to do is check whether your specific seat is included.
The fastest way to verify: go to NHTSA’s recall lookup tool and search by your seat’s model number. You can also find the model information on the white sticker on the bottom or back of your seat. Don’t assume yours is fine just because it looks recent — recalls don’t always follow a tidy timeline.
You can also check Evenflo’s own site directly for recall notices if you registered your seat when you bought it. If you registered it, they should be contacting you. If you didn’t — and most people don’t — the NHTSA lookup is your best bet.
Has anyone actually been hurt?
Yes. Injuries have been reported, which is what makes this one more urgent than a lot of the “out of an abundance of caution” recalls that come through. The shift in headrest position during impact is a real, documented problem — not a theoretical one.
The good news, if there is any here, is that recalls exist precisely because the system is supposed to catch this stuff. The NHTSA recall process requires manufacturers to notify owners and provide a remedy — usually a free repair or replacement part — so you shouldn’t be out of pocket for any of this.
What should you do right now?
Stop using the seat until you’ve confirmed whether it’s included in this recall. I know that’s inconvenient. I know car seats are not cheap and not easy to swap out on a Tuesday. But a headrest that shifts in a crash is not a small thing.
Once you’ve confirmed your seat is affected, contact Evenflo directly for remedy options. You can reach their customer service line or check their website for specific recall instructions. NHTSA’s site will also have remedy details listed under the recall number once the record is fully updated.
And if you registered your Evenflo seat when you bought it, they should already be sending you a notification — but don’t wait on that letter to arrive before you check.
Is Evenflo a trustworthy brand after this?
Honest answer: recalls happen to every major brand, and the presence of a recall doesn’t automatically mean a company is reckless. What matters is how they handle it. Evenflo is a mainstream, widely-sold brand — you’ll find their seats at Target, Walmart, Buy Buy Baby. They’re not a fly-by-night operation.
That said, this recall involves a crash-performance failure with reported injuries, which is more serious than a labeling issue or a buckle that’s slightly hard to click. It’s worth paying attention to how Evenflo responds and whether their remedy actually fixes the problem fully.
If you’re in the market for a new seat and this has you rattled, you can always cross-reference NHTSA’s child seat ratings and testing data before buying. But what do I know — I just know that the headrest staying put is kind of non-negotiable.
What is FMVSS 213 and why does it matter?
FMVSS 213 is the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that sets minimum performance requirements for child restraint systems sold in the U.S. It covers everything from how a seat handles crash forces to how harnesses are supposed to work under impact. When a seat fails to meet FMVSS 213, it means it didn’t perform the way federal safety law requires it to perform in a crash scenario.
This isn’t a voluntary guideline. It’s the legal floor. A seat that doesn’t meet FMVSS 213 shouldn’t be on the road — which is exactly why NHTSA issues the recall.
Check your seat today. Not this weekend. Today.
The NHTSA recall lookup takes about 45 seconds, and the peace of mind — or the heads-up that your seat needs a fix — is worth every single one of them. Car seats are the one place nobody should be playing it loose.
If your seat is affected, contact Evenflo and get the remedy. If it’s not, go hug whoever decided to register it when you bought it.
Frequently asked questions
Which Evenflo car seats are being recalled?
What should I do if my Evenflo seat is part of the recall?
Were any injuries reported in the Evenflo headrest recall?
What is FMVSS 213 and why is it part of this recall?
How do I look up my Evenflo seat’s recall status?
Will Evenflo fix or replace the recalled seat for free?
Is it safe to keep using my Evenflo seat while I wait for the recall fix?
