Evenflo REO Recall Guide

Evenflo has issued a voluntary recall for select REO car seat models sold in the United States and Canada, so check your model number on the back of the headrest, keep the headrest in the recommended positions, and register your seat for the free remedy. At New Parent Picks, we are an independent buying-guide site, not a testing lab, so we relay what Evenflo and NHTSA publish.

How to Check Whether Your REO Is Recalled

To find your seat details, look for the product label located on the back of the car seat shell. Raise the headrest and rotate the car seat to a side-facing position, and you will find the white label with the date of manufacture and model number on the back of the headrest. If the number begins with CS26021 and matches one of the entries below, your car seat is recalled. Until the free remedy arrives, Evenflo’s interim guidance is that affected seats may continue to be used in forward-facing or rear-facing configurations in headrest positions numbered 1 through 9 in forward-facing mode and 1 through 10 in rear-facing mode, and you should register at the Evenflo registration page.

Affected models were sold between March 2025 and the present. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists manufacture dates ranging between March 01, 2025 and June 30, 2026, covering the entirety of each specified model.

United States recalled models:

• CS260212521 (BROOKLINE)
• CS260212522 (LENOX)
• CS260212536 (HOLDEN)
• CS260212537 (NANTUCKET)
• CS260212538 (DANVERS)
• CS260212539 (CHELSEA)

Canada recalled models:

• CS260212521C (BROOKLINE)
• CS260212538C (DANVERS)

What to Do Today

Evenflo states that affected seats may continue to be used in forward-facing or rear-facing configurations in headrest positions numbered 1 through 9 in forward-facing mode and 1 through 10 in rear-facing mode. Headrest positions are numbered 1 through 11 on the plastic shell on either side of the headrest adjustment panel. Lift the seatback pad to see the numbers, where arrows on either side of the panel align with the position in use.

Evenflo’s instruction states: “Do Not Return Your Car Seat.” A child tall enough to need position 10 or 11 in forward-facing mode, or position 11 in rear-facing mode, should contact Evenflo ParentLink.

Register at the Evenflo registration page; registered owners will be notified when the free remedy is available. You can reach ParentLink Consumer Care by phone at 1-800-233-5921 in the United States or 1-800-265-0749 in Canada, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or by email at parentlink@evenflo.com. For questions about model numbers or this recall’s impact, contact ParentLink.

NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236.

What Went Wrong With the Headrest

Evenflo notes that during testing in the forward-facing configuration, when the headrest is adjusted to its two highest positions (positions 10 and 11 in forward-facing mode and position 11 in rear-facing mode), the headrest may change position under certain conditions. Evenflo reports that this condition does not affect the safety of the car seat when the headrest is adjusted to positions 1 through 9 in forward-facing mode and positions 1 through 10 in rear-facing mode, and no injuries have been reported related to this condition.

In the NHTSA recall 26C004 Part 573 report, NHTSA lists 59,661 units potentially involved. The report says that in dynamic testing with the Hybrid III three-year-old dummy in headrest position 10 (rear or forward facing) or 11 (rear facing only), the headrest may shift position. The report explains that in the relevant headrest positions, the product flexes such that the latch may disengage, allowing the headrest to shift position. NHTSA says that if the headrest position shifts in a vehicle crash, there may be a heightened risk of injury. The report adds that the noncompliance is not observable except in the context of dynamic testing or a crash.

NHTSA’s wording differs from Evenflo’s regarding which specific travel orientations correspond to position 10 and position 11. Evenflo’s owner instruction is the guidance to follow, but if you are unsure which position applies to your child’s setup, call ParentLink and keep the headrest in a lower position.

What to Expect on the Remedy

The remedy is free. Evenflo is actively developing a correction. No remedy date is published. Registered owners will be notified when it is available.

If You Would Rather Switch Seats

If you would rather switch seats, see our best convertible car seat, best car seat for newborn, and convertible vs infant car seat guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if my Evenflo car seat has been recalled?

Raise the headrest and rotate the car seat to a side-facing position to read the white product label located on the back of the headrest. If the model number starts with CS26021 and matches an affected US or Canadian REO model, your seat is included in this voluntary safety recall. The model list is on Evenflo’s REO recall page.

Is the Evenflo REO safe to use right now?

Evenflo states that affected seats may continue to be used in forward-facing or rear-facing configurations in headrest positions numbered 1 through 9 in forward-facing mode and 1 through 10 in rear-facing mode. For a child tall enough to need position 10 or 11 forward-facing or position 11 rear-facing, Evenflo instructs caregivers to contact ParentLink Consumer Care.

Do I return my REO car seat?

Evenflo explicitly instructs caregivers: “Do Not Return Your Car Seat.” The company is developing a free remedy for affected units. Register your car seat on the Evenflo website so you receive notification once the remedy becomes available.

Which other Evenflo seats are affected?

Evenflo states this recall does not affect any other Evenflo car seat, including the Revolve180, Revolve360, Revolve360 Extend, or Revolve360 Slim models. A separate, different Evenflo recall covers select Revolve180 LiteMax NXT infant seats, as detailed in our guide to the Evenflo Revolve180 LiteMax NXT recall.

What does the remedy cost?

The remedy is free. Evenflo is actively developing the correction for recalled REO units, and registered owners will be contacted once it is available.

Last Updated

Recall details were checked against Evenflo’s recall page and NHTSA campaign 26C004 on 2026-10-02. Check Evenflo’s page for changes, because the remedy status can change. See our baby gear guides.

Sources

1. Evenflo registration page (registration.evenflo.com)
2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov)
3. NHTSA recall 26C004 Part 573 report (static.nhtsa.gov)
4. Evenflo's REO recall page (evenflo.com)