When do UPPAbaby car seats expire?

UPPAbaby's expiration policy

UPPAbaby's lifespans vary by seat, and the current generation split them apart. The MESA V2 and MESA MAX manuals both instruct owners to discontinue use of the child restraint after 7 years from the date of manufacture or after a crash, and the ARIA and ARIA V2 infant seats carry the same 7-year notice of expiration. The MESA V3 moved to 10 years: its manual says to discontinue use after 10 years from the date of manufacture or after a crash. Among the bigger seats, the KNOX convertible has a 10-year life, the ROVE manual defines an expired seat as over 10 years from the date of manufacture, and the ALTA belt-positioning booster has an 8-year life.

The expiration date is printed on the seat, on the bottom of the shell and on the base for MESA models, so check the printed date rather than counting from your purchase date. MESA bases follow the same guidance as the seats they pair with.

UPPAbaby backs its car seats with a limited lifetime warranty for the original owner, defined as up to 10 years from the date of manufacture, with registration within three months of purchase from an authorized US retailer required for the extended coverage. The warranty covers manufacturing defects, not crash damage or expiration.

Where is the expiration label on a UPPAbaby seat?

The expiration date and date of manufacture are printed on labels on the bottom of the seat shell and on the car seat base. The serial number needed for registration and support is on the same label.

After a crash

The MESA V2 manual tells owners to discontinue use of the child restraint after a crash. UPPAbaby customer experience evaluates crash cases individually and can provide documentation for insurance replacement; contact them at (844) 823-3132 with the crash details and your serial number before reusing any UPPAbaby seat that has been in a collision.

Flying with a UPPAbaby seat

MESA infant seats are certified for aircraft use and install on planes without the base, using the aircraft lap belt. The KNOX is aircraft certified in harness mode. The ALTA booster is not certified for aircraft because boosters require a lap-shoulder belt. The aircraft certification statement is printed on each seat's label.

UPPAbaby's 10-year limited lifetime warranty (for registered, original owners) is about defect coverage and is longer than the MESA's 7-year useful life; do not confuse the two numbers.

MESA bases do not carry a separate shorter life; replace the base when the seat it belongs to expires or after a crash.

The MESA V3 is the first UPPAbaby infant seat with a 10-year life. Earlier MESA generations and both ARIA infant seats are 7-year seats, so check the manual and the label for the seat actually in front of you.