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Consumer Reports Admits Errors in Its Infant Car Seat Tests

January 18, 2007

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Consumer Reports Magazine is recalling its recent report on rear-facing infant car seats.

The consumer testing magazine reported January 5 that several infant car seats failed crash tests performed using tougher standards than tests used by the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The magazine now concedes that it has received information from NHTSA that raised questions about whether the tests conducted by the non-profit group accurately simulated the conditions as they were intended.

"Our 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," said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason in a statement posted on the NHTSA Web site.

"The organization's data show its side-impact tests were actually conducted under conditions that would represent being struck in excess of 70 mph, twice as fast as the group claimed," Nason said.

"When NHTSA tested the same child 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," she said.

Consumer Reports crash-tested 12 infant-seat brands including models made by Evenflo, Graco and Baby Trend and found that 10 did not provide adequate protection.

The car seats had already passed the federal government crash tests, which are conducted from the front at 30 miles per hour.

Consumer Reports said it will publish a new report as soon as possible and urges motorists to remember that any child seat is better than no child seat and to suspend judgment on the merits of individual brands until the new report is released.

At NHTSA, Administrator Nason said "Consumer Reports was right to withdraw its infant car seat test report and I appreciate that they have taken this corrective action. We are always eager to work with Consumer Reports and other organizations to improve child safety and ensure that consumers continue to have access to accurate and credible data."

"I was troubled by the report because it frightened parents and could have discouraged them from using car seats," she said.

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