CPST Child Restraint Registration, Recalls & Product Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a manufacturer issues a recall on a child restraint, who bears the cost of the remedy?
- The manufacturer bears the cost — remedies are free to owners (Correct answer)
- The caregiver pays for parts and the manufacturer covers labor
- The retailer who sold the seat covers all costs
- NHTSA reimburses caregivers directly
Correct answer: The manufacturer bears the cost — remedies are free to owners
Under NHTSA regulations, manufacturers must provide recall remedies at no cost to the consumer.
Question 2: A caregiver asks if a second-hand child restraint from a trusted family member is safe to use. What is the most important first step a CPST should recommend?
- Check the seat's manufacture date, expiration date, and recall status (Correct answer)
- Test the harness for strength by pulling firmly
- Verify the seat fits in the caregiver's vehicle
- Confirm the seat's original purchase receipt is available
Correct answer: Check the seat's manufacture date, expiration date, and recall status
Before using any second-hand seat, it is essential to verify the manufacture and expiration dates and check NHTSA's database to confirm the seat has no open recalls.
Question 3: What does it mean when a child restraint is listed as 'discontinued' on the NHTSA database?
- The model is no longer manufactured but may still be in use and subject to recalls (Correct answer)
- The seat has been certified as permanently safe and no longer needs monitoring
- The seat is immediately illegal to use
- NHTSA has approved the seat for extended use beyond expiration
Correct answer: The model is no longer manufactured but may still be in use and subject to recalls
A discontinued model is simply no longer in production; it can still be subject to recalls and should continue to be checked on NHTSA's database.
Question 4: Which of the following is NOT one of NHTSA's five criteria for classifying a crash as 'minor' (allowing potential continued seat use)?
- The child suffered no injuries whatsoever in the crash (Correct answer)
- The door nearest the child restraint was undamaged
- No airbags deployed in the vehicle
- The vehicle could be driven away from the crash site
Correct answer: The child suffered no injuries whatsoever in the crash
NHTSA's five minor-crash criteria focus on vehicle and restraint system conditions, not on whether the child was injured; all five structural/vehicle criteria must be met.
Question 5: A caregiver wants to donate their expired child restraint to a charity. What should a CPST advise?
- Destroy the seat so it cannot be used and cannot pose a safety risk (Correct answer)
- Donate it only if it has no visible damage
- Donate it with a note indicating the expiration date
- Contact NHTSA for an exemption to allow donation
Correct answer: Destroy the seat so it cannot be used and cannot pose a safety risk
Expired seats should be rendered unusable before disposal — cutting the straps and marking it 'expired/do not use' prevents accidental use by a future recipient.
Question 6: Which resource provides CPSTs with the most current and comprehensive list of child restraint recalls in the U.S.?
- NHTSA's safercar.gov recall database (Correct answer)
- The manufacturer's printed instruction manual
- State DMV recall notification lists
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recall newsletter
Correct answer: NHTSA's safercar.gov recall database
NHTSA's safercar.gov is maintained in real time by the federal government and is the definitive source for current child restraint recall information.
CPST Child Restraint Registration, Recalls & Product Safety 3
When a manufacturer issues a recall on a child restraint, who bears the cost of the remedy?