Consumer Reports Recalls Controversial Infant Car Seat Study

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, recalled its recent study on infant car seats pending further testing and review of the controversial findings. The report, released earlier this month, suggested that only two of the infant car seats tested passed the group's proprietary crash testing and could therefore be called safe. Though several car seat safety organizations expressed concerns and disagreement over Consumer Reports' findings, the news coverage of the report sparked panic in parents whose children are riding in infant car seats, and sales skyrocketed for the two seats deemed safe in the report.

Consumers Union released a statement today saying the report is recalled due to a "substantive issue that may have affected the original test results." The group's latest news release says that new information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts the accuracy of the side-impact portion of the crash tests into question.

In a news release on the NHTSA website, NHTSA administrator Nicole Nason said the agency's "initial review of the Consumer Reports testing procedures showed a significant error in the manner in which it conducted and reported on its side-impact tests." Nason said Consumers Union's side-impact crash tests were conducted at a speed that was nearly twice what the group claimed. When NHTSA tested the same infant car seats in "conditions representing the 38.5 mph conditions claimed by Consumer Reports, the seats stayed in their bases as they should, instead of failing dramatically," Nason said.

Consumer Reports plans to re-release their study after corrections are made. Unfortunately, the incorrect information has already been widely publicized, and the damage will be difficult, if not impossible, to undo. I urge parents to remember that using your baby's car seat properly is the best way to keep your baby safe on the road. For my recommendations on infant car seats that meet federal crash test requirements, please see Top 8 Infant Car Seats.