Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate

    Thousands of Evenflo Titan 65 Car Seats Recalled for Missing Tether Strap

    Without the strap, forward-facing car seats might not sufficiently protect children in a crash

    Evenflo Titan 65 recalled car seat
    Evenflo Titan 65 car seats are being recalled because some lack a tether strap, which is required for forward-facing installation.
    Photo: Consumer Reports

    If you have an Evenflo Titan 65 convertible car seat, check that it has a tether strap. More than 64,000 car seats across several model numbers have been recalled by the manufacturer because they’re missing the tether strap, which is required for installation when using the car seat in the forward-facing position. 

    More on Car Seats

    The tether strap is a crucial component of a proper front-facing child car seat installation, whether it’s with a seat belt or lower anchors. According to a 2017 study from Safe Kids Worldwide, 64 percent of caregivers at a car seat safety check event weren’t using a tether strap and considered it optional. But it can play a significant role in helping protect your child in a crash by reducing the amount of forward movement of your child’s body, which can help prevent them from hitting their head against the back of the front seat. 

    “Attaching and tightening the top tether strap when your child is forward-facing significantly reduces their head injury risk in a crash,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports. “Head contact with the vehicle interior is one of the most common ways children can be injured in a crash.”

    At this time, no injuries have been reported related to the missing Titan 65 tether straps. 

    The recall report, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says that the missing tether strap is due to a manufacturing defect. But not every seat is missing a strap: Of the 64,031 Evenflo Titan 65 car seats thought to be potentially affected, just 0.1 percent are estimated to have been produced without one. 

    If you’re missing a tether strap, contact Evenflo for a repair kit. The company will send you one and instructions for installing it. For more details on the Evenflo Titan 65 recall, including the model numbers involved, see below.

    About the Evenflo Titan 65 Car Seat Recall

    Not all Titan 65 seats are missing a tether strap. But if yours is missing, be sure to reach out to Evenflo for a replacement. 

    “If your Evenflo Titan 65 is missing the top tether and you have no alternative to using the seat to transport your child, contact the manufacturer to determine if you can continue safely using the product,” says Michael Bloch, who oversees child seat testing at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center.

    While the tether strap is an important safety feature, it’s not the only component that can keep your child safe in a crash. Along with checking for a tight installation of your vehicle seat, make sure the harness is properly positioned every time you strap your child in, with the shoulder straps at or just above the child’s shoulders in forward-facing mode. The harness should also be snug enough that you can’t pinch the webbing straps at their shoulders, and there’s no extra slack around their hips. And the chest clip should be positioned at their armpit level. All of these steps can help reduce your child’s risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Also check to be sure you’ve registered your car seat with Evenflo to stay up to date on safety notices and other recalls. If you haven’t registered or you recently moved, you can start or update your registration.

    What to Know About Winter Coats and Car Seats

    Coats and child car seat harnesses don’t mix, but CR experts have helpful tips for keeping your little one warm and safe.

    Details of the Evenflo Titan 65 Car Seat Recall

    Seats recalled: 64,031 Evenflo Titan 65 convertible car seats across specific model numbers. If you have one, check the model number to see if it’s part of the recall. The seats were manufactured between March 1, 2025, and Dec. 11, 2025, and were sold in the U.S. You can find your car seat’s model number on a label on the back or bottom of it.

    Affected model numbers include: CS200312198, CS200311198, 3712198, and 3711198.

    The problem: The recalled car seats may have been manufactured without a tether strap, which is required for use when the convertible car seat is in the forward-facing position. “A child seat with a missing tether strap may not adequately protect a child in a crash, increasing the risk of injury,” NHTSA says in the recall announcement.

    The fix: Evenflo will notify all owners of the Titan 65 car seat and ask them to check their child’s car seat for a tether strap. Letters are expected to be mailed to registered owners around Feb. 20, 2026, though you can also contact Evenflo before this date. If your seat doesn’t have a tether strap, Evenflo will mail you one free of charge, along with installation instructions. 

    How to contact the manufacturer: Call Evenflo customer service at 800-233-5921.

    NHTSA campaign number: 26C001


    Jessica D’Argenio Waller, MS, CNS, LDN, CPST

    Jessica D’Argenio Waller is a baby and health writer and editor at Consumer Reports, covering a range of topics, from strollers to infant formula to safe sleep practices. Before joining CR in 2025, she was editorial director at Motherly. Jessica is a licensed and board-certified nutritionist and a certified child passenger safety technician, a mom of two, and an avid runner and home cook.