Beware of Counterfeit Car Seats and Helmets

Your family’s safety, especially the safety of your little ones, should always come first. That’s why we’re keeping you informed about a growing safety concern that’s catching many parents and guardians off guard. Even after hours of researching reviews and safety reports online, families can still fall victim to counterfeit safety products. Fake car seats and bike helmets are flooding online marketplaces, often looking nearly identical to trusted brands. But behind the convincing appearance, these knock-offs fail to meet federal safety standards and in the event of a crash, even at low speeds, they can fail catastrophically.

Counterfeit Car Seats

It’s disheartening to think scammers are willing to put children’s lives at risk to make money, but it’s true that counterfeit car seats are a real concern to keep an eye out for when shopping. Counterfeit car seats often look like real models but lack critical Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). In fact, fake seats may:

Lack proper testing and energy-absorbing padding
Lack side-impact protection and chest clips
Have weak plastic shells that crack under force
Feature weak straps that tear or loosen, letting a child slip free

Because they’re unregulated, these seats never undergo the rigorous crash tests that approved seats must pass and they’ve repeatedly failed to protect child dummies in crash tests.

Spotting the Fakes: What to Look For

Missing labels or incorrect language: All car seats sold in the U.S. must have a label marked FMVSS 213 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213). They also display a model number, manufacture date, and expiration date.
Narrow, stroller-style straps: Knock-offs often use cheaper straps similar to those on high chairs, not the sturdy harnesses car seats require.
No chest clip: One of the easiest ways to spot a counterfeit car seat is the lack of a chest clip.
Lack of manual or warranty: All U.S.-approved seats come with instructions and information on warranties and recalls.
Unknown brand name: Be cautious of strange brands you’ve never encountered.

Bike Helmets

Consumer Reports’ product safety team bought 21 helmets from third-party sellers across Amazon, eBay, Shein, Temu, Walmart, and Facebook Marketplace. Alarmingly, eight of those helmets lacked the required Consumer Product Safety Commission ( CPSC) compliance label, meaning they didn’t meet legal safety requirements for U.S. bike helmets. Check out this YouTube video for the frightening difference between a real and counterfeit helmet under force.

Beware Online Marketplaces

The rise in counterfeit car seats aligns with the explosion of cheap online retail. Fake seats and helmets commonly appear on:

Facebook Marketplace
Amazon (third-party sellers)
Walmart
eBay
Shein
Temu
AliExpress
Auction sites and social-media ads

If a deal looks “too good to be true” it often is. It’s safest to buy in person from the manufacturer or a trusted retailer, so you can inspect labels and see the quality firsthand.

What To Do if You Suspect a Fake

Stop using it immediately.
Report it to:
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- STOPfakes.gov
Buy a verified replacement. The NHTSA has a guide for finding the right car seat for your family.
Destroy the counterfeit by cutting the straps to avoid another family falling victim

Miguel Custodio of CD Law says, “Too many families trust that a car seat or helmet will protect their children only to discover it’s a dangerous fake that fails in a crash. It’s disheartening that we can’t put our full trust in something that is supposed to protect us and our little ones. As a personal injury attorney I urge you to shop cautiously, but as a parent I beg you not to take this lightly. Spread the word and warn others about the dangers of counterfeit products.”

Finding a good dupe for luxury items, like a generic version of your favorite expensive shampoo, can be a smart way to save. But when it comes to safety gear for your children, there’s no room for shortcuts or fakes! Buying counterfeit products isn’t just a waste of money, it’s a serious risk to your child’s life. Reach out if you need legal help after you or a loved one gets hurt due to someone else’s negligence.