10 Car Seats Fail New Crash Tests

[KaisaG]

Consumer Reports is known for taking safety to the next level, and in its most recent round of testing rear-facing, infant car seats, it went beyond the current federal safety standards for seat performance in a collision. The government tests seats in front crashes of 30 mph, but Consumer Reports simulated front impacts of 35 mph and side impacts of 38 mph (the same standards used for car safety testing). The results in this more stringent environment were dramatic, with 10 of the 12 seats either twisting too far or coming out of their bases.

Consumer Reports' testing also showed serious failings in seats secured by the LATCH system. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) itself calls the LATCH system confusing and Consumer Reports notes that the NHTSA is planning a public hearing on the system later this year.

Here's how the seats fared in Consumer Reports' tests:

The Good
Baby Trend Flex-Loc Adjustable Back
Graco Snugride with EPS

The Bad
Chicco KeyFit
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP
Compass I410
Evenflo Embrace
Britax Companion
Graco SafeSeat
Safety 1st Designer
Combi Centre ST
Evenflo Discovery
Eddie Bauer Comfort


Read the full Consumer Reports safety alert.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/child-car-booster-seats/car-seats-2-07/overview/0207_seats_ov.htm

[Lynette]

Isn't that crazy?! I didn't even know they tested them at such low speeds either! Someone in the article made the comment that they want the seats to be safe but not so complicated that the parent's put their kids in them at all so they had to comprimise! Huh? I wouldn't care if my kid's carseat was the equivalent to a Rubix Cube I would figure it out!

[KaisaG]

I know it was quite a selfish statement IMO... I mean sure it would be nice to be able to leave the house in 2 minutes but if it takes 20 minutes to make sure your kid is safe, you'd think they'd go for it.

[daisydoc]

I wouldn't care if my kid's carseat was the equivalent to a Rubix Cube I would figure it out!

EXACTLY!!! No parent should care how long it takes to make sure their kid is going to be safe!

And WTF? Why haven't seats been tested at the same speeds and such as the cars themselves? That makes no sense! You are putting them in the car so wouldn't you think they should be tested to the same standards as the car?!?!?!

[Kellie_MO5]

I know it was quite a selfish statement IMO... I mean sure it would be nice to be able to leave the house in 2 minutes but if it takes 20 minutes to make sure your kid is safe, you'd think they'd go for it.

:yeah

[My3sonsplus1]

someone on another board was talking to their husband and decided it is because "usually in a accident you brake so you would not be going "normal speeds""... Uhh' when was this? Even if you do brake going from highway speeds of 70ish mph you aren't going to miraclously get to 30mph at impact and #2 I was not aware that "most" crashes happened where people were aware of the crash beforehand... but yeah testing seats at <40 mph leaves a lot to be desired!

Sadly some parents don't even properly buckle their kids the way we have seats right now, #1 install seat correctly #2 clip left strap, right strap and than chest clip, so realistically anything "more involved" would certainly be passed up :(. (But I am all for it for my own useage :)) What burns me is when I see kids standing next to their car seats in a car, because you know it isn't a lack of funds to buy the seat, because it is right.there!

[My3sonsplus1]

http://www.car-seat.org/forumdisplay.php?f=13

interesting. many techs dislike CR as far as car seat testing... and if I skimmed correctly, a 30 pound dummy was used for these tests, a 30 pound dummy in a seat only designed for up to 20/22 pounds?! never mind the 30 pounds is for the safe seat the infant seat that goes to 30 pounds. All seats were tested at their max, 22 and 30 respectively.

[KaisaG]

i and if I skimmed correctly, a 30 pound dummy was used for these tests, a 30 pound dummy in a seat only designed for up to 20/22 pounds?!

Actually it said: "We used a test dummy weighing the maximum claimed weight for each seat. That’s 30 pounds for the Graco SafeSeat and 22 pounds for the others. "

[becky]

i still cant believe that these seats failed at such a slow speed. make you think what would happen if they were tested at real speeds.

[My3sonsplus1]

Actually it said: "We used a test dummy weighing the maximum claimed weight for each seat. That’s 30 pounds for the Graco SafeSeat and 22 pounds for the others. "

yeah I went back and edited my post after reading the posting again. I thought that sounded retarded to do.

[My3sonsplus1]

i still cant believe that these seats failed at such a slow speed. make you think what would happen if they were tested at real speeds.

Well cars ("vroom vroom") are only tested at 35-38 mph, how wild is THAT!!! per that article:

"Our new tests are tougher than the federal car-seat standard because a significant performance gap exists between vehicles and the car seats they carry.
The federal New Car Assessment Program tests most cars and minivans, and some pickups and SUVs, in 35-mph frontal crashes and 38-mph side crashes. Scores in the form of “star” ratings are widely publicized, and as a result carmakers have improved the crash protection of vehicles. There has been no such incentive for the makers of child car seats sold in the U.S."

Car seats with bases have always wigged me out a bit for this reason. And it is easy to not clip the seat in all the way if you don't know what you are doing. We have a Baby Trend seat and you have to push top left, top right, lower left, lower right to make sure it really is clipped in. Even if you hear a click sometimes it isn't REALLY clicked in all the way.

[becky]

i know all about that...we have such an old car that it always seems i have to triple check everything to make sure it is in tight enough and the buckle is compltely clicked.