Safety Recall NHTSA · 97C020000 Reported June 23, 1997

Evenflo/head injury criteria

Evenflo Company, Inc. · Child Seat · 35,856 vehicles potentially affected

NHTSA ID
97C020000
Manufacturer Campaign
NR (Not Reported)
Manufacturer
Evenflo Company, Inc.
Component
Child Seat
Vehicles Affected
35,856
Recall Type
Child Seat
Report Received
June 23, 1997

Defect Summary

Equipment description: sidekick child booster seats, model nos. 244 manufactured from april 23, 1996 through may 20, 1997. these seats do not comply with fmvss no. 213, "child restraint systems," which limits head injury criteria. in recent tests on some of these booster seats, the head injury criteria scored more than allowed by this standard.

Safety Consequence

In the event of a vehicle crash, there is a risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Corrective Action

Evenflo will reimburse owners either completely or partially depending on whether the seat can be used by the owner's child. owners are advised to use the sidekick booster seat only as a belt positioner. when used as a belt positioner, the sidekick must be used without its front shield and only in vehicles equipped with a three point lap/shoulder seat belt system.

What you should do

  1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm this recall applies to your vehicle.
  2. Contact an authorized Evenflo Company, Inc. dealer and reference recall ID 97C020000 or campaign NR (Not Reported).
  3. Schedule the free repair. By federal law, the manufacturer must remedy the defect at no cost.
View Official NHTSA Notice →
Related

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FAQ: Recall 97C020000

Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.

What is recall 97C020000?

NHTSA recall 97C020000 was issued by Evenflo Company, Inc. on June 23, 1997. It addresses: Evenflo/head injury criteria. The recall affects approximately 35,856 vehicles, with the defect involving the Child Seat component.

How do I get this recall repaired?

Contact any authorized Evenflo Company, Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 97C020000 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.

Is my vehicle included in this recall?

The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.

How long do I have to get a recall repair done?

There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.

Where does the data on this page come from?

All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.