How to check if a product is recalled
A recall search is easier when you have the product in front of you. The name on the box is a starting point, but a model number or date label can help you tell whether a notice covers your item.
You can use kidsrecallfacts.com to explore CPSC children’s product recalls from 2010 onward and NHTSA child car seat recalls. Then check the official notice for the current details.
Gather the identifying details
Look for the brand, product name, model number, and any serial or batch number. Photograph the label so you can enlarge the text on your phone. Keep the original photo rather than relying only on a handwritten note.
A purchase date and a manufacturing date are different things. If a notice lists a manufacturing period, compare it with the date on the product. A receipt may help with the purchase date, but it does not replace the model label.
For a borrowed or secondhand item, ask the previous owner for paperwork if it is available. If the label is missing or unreadable, tell the company what you can identify and ask for help.
Steps
- Search our product recalls or car seat recalls using the brand and model.
- Open a possible match and compare the identifiers, dates, and description.
- Check CPSC recalls for children’s products or NHTSA recalls for child car seats.
- Contact the company through the official notice if anything is unclear.
Compare more than the photograph
Two products can look almost identical but have different model numbers. A single recall may also include several colors, sizes, or names. Use the notice’s written description and identifying details together.
Pay attention to any limits on the affected products. The notice may name particular batches, manufacturing dates, or retailers. A retailer name can be helpful context, but your model and date information still matter.
If you find a match, read the instructions before taking the item apart, returning it, or discarding it. Our guide to owning a recalled product explains how to organize that next step.
When a search does not find your item
The right description is that the product “was not found in the recall data we hold.” Search results depend on the records available and the words you entered. They are not a product assessment.
Check CPSC or NHTSA directly and ask the company about your exact model. Try another spelling, the manufacturer’s name, or a shorter model number if your first search is empty. Check older items directly with the agency and company, especially when they fall outside this site’s CPSC date range.
Save the notice and the date you checked. If you later receive a company message, compare it with the official information again rather than assuming your earlier search settles the question.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public information. Independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by CPSC or NHTSA.