This is why car seats expire in 6 years. This test shows a dummy in a 10 year old car seat. The straps break free and the child flies out.
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Car seat expiration
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because cars aren’t made of plastic
Nice video. I really enjoyed watching it. I am running a marketing campaign to start a large auto detailing chain corporation. Let me know what you think by checking out my channel. Thanks
-Politowic
those seats were recalled and fixed though.
because cars are made of STEEL. The structure of the car is not made of plastic. Car seats with steel inside do last longer. There is one booster that never expires because it is a solid steel structure. It is Recaro Start
you can’t tell when plastic isn’t safe. Also plastic becomes brittle from the moment is is created. It is degrading the moment it is done being created. Elements do make that process faster but keeping it inside doesn’t stop the process. The seats STILL expire even if locked in a closet.
The only videos I see from transportation canada were test conditions that EXCEED normal testing standards. This test above does not exceed testing standards. The tests you speak of were accidents that most people wouldn’t survive at all! let alone a child in a car seat.
@BoAFan149 They are actually made of a type of plastic. They’re made of fiberglass, not metal anymore.
The expire dates are worst-case, presuming the car seat lives in the car. You agree storing indoors lengthens life. I say, a LOT. Yes, I know mine is a minority view, but don’t just thumbs me down because of that. THINK and research.
It’s wrong to tell poor families to spend vaccine money on a car seat they don’t need. Many other things could help their child more, not least parents showing financial intelligence.
who the heck said that vaccine money should be spent on a car seat. There are programs for low income families to get NEW safe car seats for a very minimal amount of money in my area they get new seats for only $10! They just have to take a car seat class. It is not smart to use an EXPIRED car seat. It is a dumb thing to do and very very unsafe. Riding in the car is the most dangerous thing our kids do EACH and every day.
Everyone seems eager to say “it’s not worth the risk” without having read whatever research is available. I would be eager to see research on more expensive seats, say $150 & up and if they were stored mostly inside. Could they last 15 – 20 yrs??? It would be nice to have more data than just 6 yrs. I personally bought a more expensive car seat & it was inside more than not & I live in a milder climate. I’m sure it would be more than 6 years but to say that would make people think you’re cruel.
@armorcav98
where did you see this?
As an engineer, I can tell you it all depends on the treatment of the car seat and the quality with which it was made. A well designed car seat made with quality plastics should be good for FAR better than 6 years. I don’t buy that logic “the toy in the sun falls apart”. Fact is, if your car seat breaks from exposure to the sun you have a lawsuit as the plastics are usually protected by the cover, and not to mention there are plenty of plastics designed for UV exposure.
How do we know that this wouldn’t have happened with the brand-new car seat? This video, by itself, doesn’t prove very much. To really show the harm in having an old seat, they should have simultaneously had a new car seat to show if there was any real difference.
@umothra
The manual for the Recaro Start states to discontinue use 8 years after manufacture date due to deterioration, so it DOES expire.
@haasker07
It is best to err on the side of caution when it comes to a child’s safety. If it is past the manufacturer’s determined expiration, it is technically illegal to use since it would be going against the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Not only do the carseats break down a lot to where they are unsafe around 6 years..but safety standards change, there are recalls and safety notices. there is a reason why we dont use those infant carseat from the 80s anymore or the kind of carseats that have the bar thing that drop down.. Its called safety.. newer carseats tend to be safer because the engineers and scientists find new ways of keeping your child safer. I NEVER use expired or close to expired carseat. Its just common sense
A steel frame would last.
Well, cheap car seats sure expire, but about the video: I see that belts fail but not the actual car seat itself. I concur that belts not only expire they can easily degrade just being in a heat. I had a few belts stored in a garage (Texas) and after a year I could easily tear them apart with not much force applied to them, even a kid could do it! So, belts do fail cause they are made of plastic fibers that are susceptible to heat. Actual car seat itself – don’t ask me. May be so.
How do we know this is an expired car seat?? it would have been better if they showed the expiration date then did the test and also did the same test with a new car seat…I would like to see a video like that! I will never use a exoired car seat buit Im just saying.
@Digitaizen – The belts didn’t fail. Watch closely. They rip right through the shell of the seat. The plastic shell broke and the harness went right through.
And Britax seats are not cheap. They’re pretty pricey. And over ten years ago, they were the “it” car seat to have.
@Digitaizen I agree with you on belts… I got 1988 station wagon, the driver’s and pasinger seat belts move automatically and i can tell that the pasinger seat belt is not going to last much longer
People are reading a lot into this video. Where are the specks on the test? How will a new seat perform under the same conditions? Without this information the video is nothing but propaganda.
All car seat manufacturers I spoke to claim that the expiration date is a safety measure based upon wear and tear assumptions for the belt and not the plastic. They are very conservative and are specked around a worst case scenario.
Buy a new seat if you can’t access the risk, not just because it’s old.
UV rays break down the plastic. Has anyone ever seen sun bleached plastic? It works the same way with carseats.
OK so what do you do with your expired car seat?
One dead little bastard lol .
Your baby will feel happy if you choose a suitable gift such as a car seat. If you buy a comfortable and safe car seat for your little treasure, I am sure he or she will be quite pleased because it helps to minimize the discomfort.
Choosing a car seat as a gift is a fabulous idea. It helps to minimize discomfort for your little treasure and keep your baby safe.