If the car seat passes all of these criteria, you still need to check for possible recalls. Manufacturers are required to fix the problem free of charge. If your seat is recalled, be sure to get it fixed right away. Most problems can be fixed by replacing a part that the manufacturer will send you for free. Sometimes, with an older seat or when the company is out of business, you may need to destroy it.
Many defects are minor, but some are serious.
All problems should be corrected as soon as possible. Unless you have another seat, you should go on using the recalled one while you are waiting for the repair kit. Using a recalled car seat almost always is safer than letting your child ride in a safety belt only. New safety seats come with registration cards. When you buy a new seat, be sure to send in the card to register it.