When do Cosco car seats expire?

Cosco's expiration policy

Cosco Kids, part of Dorel Juvenile Group, marks each seat with its own expiration. The best-selling Scenera NEXT convertible expires 8 years after the date of manufacture, with the expiration etched into the back of the shell. The Finale DX 2-in-1 combination seat is a 10-year seat.

Dorel's general guidance for its brands puts current lifespans in the 8-to-12-year range depending on the product, while older Cosco seats commonly carried 6- or 8-year lives. Because Cosco physically marks the do-not-use-after date on the shell of most models, the seat itself is the authoritative source.

Cosco consumer care warns against secondhand seats with unknown history: if you cannot verify the seat's age, crash history, and recall status, do not use it.

Where is the expiration label on a Cosco seat?

The date of manufacture is on a sticker on the seat (on the Scenera NEXT it is on the right side near the rear-facing belt path), and the expiration or do-not-use-after date is etched into or printed on the back or bottom of the plastic shell.

After a crash

Dorel's guidance tracks the NHTSA criteria: replacement is required after a moderate or severe crash, and Dorel recommends replacing the seat even after a minor crash, occupied or not. Contact Cosco Kids consumer care with crash details if you are unsure.

Flying with a Cosco seat

Cosco's harnessed seats are FAA approved. The Scenera NEXT is a favorite airplane seat: it is light, narrow, and certified for aircraft, with the FAA approval label on the left side of the seat near the rear-facing belt path. Booster mode on the Finale DX is not certified for aircraft.

The Scenera NEXT's low price makes it a common secondhand seat. Check the etched expiration on the back of the shell before accepting one.

Cosco, Safety 1st, and Maxi-Cosi share Dorel consumer care, so policies and lookup tools are the same across the brands.