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Originally Posted by Kaytee  not sure it is true or not as I have not personally looked into it, but a friend told me that Britax says their seats are good for 8 years, but US law only allows for 6. Any ideas? |
As a former CPS Tech (my certification just expired last week) - There is no such law. It's a guideline made by safety experts and car seat manufacturers. Britax seats expire 6 yrs. after the date of manufacture. Fisher Price car seats, back when Fisher Price made them, not the newer versions made by Britax for Fisher Price, had an 8 yr. lifespan.
Britax : Frequently Asked Questions FAQ details Q. How long can my child seat be used? A. Britax recommends that the use of a child seat be discontinued after six years or if the seat has been involved in a severe crash. After six years, technology has changed, components degrade from the environment (depending on how and where stored), parts get lost or installed incorrectly, or instructions and labels may not be available or not legible. The child seat may be unsafe and should be destroyed. CPSafety - Your online child passenger safety resource
If a car seat is used past the 6 yr. DOM date, the manufacturer is released from liability should the car seat malfunction during a crash.