Nature of the Problem and Recall Scope
Parents who have an Evenflo REO child car seat should check the model number before their next trip. The company has announced a recall of nearly 60,000 seats sold in the US and another 6,223 in Canada. The reason: crash tests revealed that the adjustable headrest can shift during a collision. Fortunately, the issue only affects a few headrest positions, so most owners can continue using the seats while Evenflo prepares a free repair.
Affected Models and Positions
The US recall covers 59,661 Evenflo REO car seats manufactured between March 2025 and June 2026, including the Brookline, Lenox, Holden, Nantucket, Danvers, and Chelsea models. According to Evenflo, after production, laboratory tests showed that the headrest could shift during a crash under certain conditions.
Only Specific Headrest Settings
In forward-facing mode, the problem occurs when the headrest is set to position 10 or 11. In rear-facing mode, it only occurs at position 11. No injuries have been reported. The company emphasizes that the structural integrity of the seat is not compromised if other positions are used.
The problem was discovered after the NHTSA tested one of the Evenflo REO seats as part of its annual compliance verification program. During a frontal crash test with a three-year-old child dummy, researchers noticed that the headrest moved from a higher position to a lower one. This prompted Evenflo to conduct its own investigation. Ultimately, the company concluded that the affected seats do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213.
Explanation of the Defect
An updated recall report explains that in vulnerable headrest positions, the seat frame can flex enough to cause the headrest latch to disengage during impact, allowing it to shift. If this happens, the risk of injury to the child increases. Interestingly, Evenflo does not advise discontinuing use of the recalled seats.
What Owners Should Do
Instead, families should avoid the hazardous headrest positions until a repair is available. That means using positions 1 through 9 in forward-facing mode and positions 1 through 10 in rear-facing mode. If the child has already outgrown these settings, parents should contact Evenflo ParentLink Consumer Care.
Repair Procedure
The company is developing a free repair kit that will reinforce the headrest mechanism to prevent it from shifting during a crash. Registered owners will receive a notification once the solution becomes available. Evenflo also reports that customers who have already incurred costs to address the issue may be eligible for reimbursement under the recall program.
Recalled Models (US):
- CS260212521 (BROOKLINE)
- CS260212522 (LENOX)
- CS260212536 (HOLDEN)
- CS260212537 (NANTUCKET)
- CS260212538 (DANVERS)
- CS260212539 (CHELSEA)
Recalled Models (Canada):
- CS260212521C (BROOKLINE)
- CS260212538C (DANVERS)
Photo: Evenflo
Similar situations are not uncommon — child car seat manufacturers periodically conduct recalls after independent tests. This shows that the NHTSA quality control system is working effectively, allowing defects to be identified before they pose a real danger. Even if the manufacturer permits temporary use of the seat, it is important not to ignore recall notices and to replace or repair the product in a timely manner. The safety of a child during travel depends not only on correct seat installation but also on the proper functioning of all its components.