When Do Diono Car Seats Expire? Everything to Know About Diono Car Seat Expiration
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When Do Diono Car Seats Expire? - Diono Car Seat Expiration
For a good time, car seat expiration has been a debatable topic and will continue to do so over time. But you know what? You learn, unlearn and relearn.
I was pretty unaware of why Car Seat should expire and why car manufacturers established that until I dug up more information. You’ll get to know soon. Stay tight.
While this post is on extensive details on when do Diono car seat expires and the expiry dates for all models, there’s a general topic on how to check if your car seat is expired I previously wrote which is detailed in its own regard. You should also check that. But here will be particularly more extensive on Diono car seat expiration.
Diono car seats do expire, and it takes 6 – 10 years from the date of purchase (for radian ® rXT; 10 years). If the date of purchase (DOP) can’t be determined, you refer to the date of manufacture (DOM). The label that carries these details is located on the left-hand side of the seat. This time is called the useful life and varies across the different types of car seats (Diono’s product lines), be it rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, a convertible, or a booster.
What Does Car Seat Expiration Generally Mean and Why Does It Exist?
Now let’s get to some nitty-gritty of why car seats expire.
The primary purpose of a car seat is to secure and protect your child if a car crash happens.
A lot goes into ensuring that a seat performs just the right purpose, and as such, the integrity must be maintained optimally.
However, as with anything, degradation due to environmental factors is imminent and, in this regard, affects a car seat’s integrity over time.
On the other hand, technological development and changes in car seat laws and regulations evolve over time. You have to be in line with what the law says and the latest safety feature offered by a car seat.
All these make manufacturers set expiration dates so you don’t use an old seat that may have degraded in quality integrity or use a seat that doesn’t meet standards anymore, and generally ensure absolute safety for your little ones.
Environmental Factors Causing Wear & Tear on Materials
Most car seats you’ll use will spend most of its useful life in a car under different weather and season.
All day under the sun during summer, all night inside cold during winter. This change in temperature over the useful life will affect the materials. And that is why ‘steel’ materials have a relatively more extended expiration date than ‘plastics.’ – note; these materials are reinforced.
Technological Development
Technology keeps advancing every day. Brands keep developing something new that improves the safety features of car seats.
For example, Diono uses a technology named “Safe+ Engineering™,” a development that employs a powerful anti-rebound system that keeps your rear-facing car seat from rebound rotation by up to 50%. Another fantastic feature of Safe+ is the Side Impact Technology integrated with the headrest to keep your baby’s head in a good position in the event of any collision features.
This and many more are reasons why you need to have a recent car seat from the technology angle.
This technology is exclusively available in the all-new radian Q series released in 2019 on their 20th anniversary.
Safety Laws and Regulations
Safety laws and regulations are updated now and then.
For example, the New York car seat laws were updated as recently as March 4, 2022 (depending on when you are reading this, this was posted March 25)
Possible Factory Defect (recalls)
As much as safety tests are carried out on every single car seat manufactured before being released to the market, there is usually the possibility of a recall if a defect or an issue not detected during the test phase is discovered later.
Record is made for every purchase made. If eventually there is a recall within the useful life, a manufacturer reaches all customers to notify them. However, recalls are not issued after the expiration date, so you want to be safe by not using an expired car seat.
The most recent recall was made on December 23, 2021 (not Diono).
Diono’s most recent recall (as at this posting – March 25, 2022) was May 24, 2021, for CAMBRIA 2 produced September 5, 2020 – November 30, 2020.
More information on recalls can be found on The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Child Seat Recall Campaign Listing.
Expiration Date on Diono Car Seat
All Diono car seat models have expiration dates and vary across the different models and depending on the model’s material. Diono calculates the expiration date from the date of purchase, an unusual way from some other brands that calculate from the date of manufacture.
However, it is mentioned that if the date of purchase cannot be determined, the date of manufacture should be referenced.
How Many Years Is a Diono Car Seat Good For
The number of years Diono car seats can be used varies according to the product model. Diono car seats have useful life ranging from 6-10 years and counts from the date of purchase.
However, it is mentioned that if the date of purchase cannot be determined, the date of manufacture should be referenced.
Where Is the Expiration Date on A Diono Car Seat
Diono car seat expiration date can be on the label information that is usually on the child’s left-hand side of the seat or anywhere else (bottom or side) of the car seat or in the manual. Usually is, the expiration date is calculated from the date of purchase (or date of manufacture if the DOP cannot be determined).
Diono Car Seat Expiry Dates
The car seat expiry date for Diono is calculated from the date of purchase (which is unusual from other brands). A simple calculation will be;
Date of Purchase + Useful life = Expiry Date.
The table below is a comprehensive list of Diono seat models, useful years, and the user manual.
The manual can be found here.
Diono All-in-One Car Seats Expiration Dates
| Model | Useful Life - Expiration Date | Location of DOM Label | Manual (PDF Download) | Weight Limit | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
radian® 3QX | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 4-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: 18-44 in. f-f: 30-57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® 3QXT | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 4-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: 18-44 in. f-f: 30-57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® 3QXT+ | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 4-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: 18-44 in. f-f: 30-57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® 3R | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 4-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® 3R (prior 2019) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-40 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 50-100 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® 3RX | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® 3RX (prior 2019) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® 3RXT | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® 3RXT (prior 2019) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® 3RXT Safe+ | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 4-50 lbs. f-f: 22-65 lbs. booster: 40-120 lbs. | r-f: 18-44 in. f-f: 30-57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® 65SL | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-40 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. | |
radian® 80SL | 8 years (as harness), 10 years (as booster) - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-40 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 50-100 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® R100 (manufactured May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-40 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 50-100 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
radian® R100 (prior May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-40 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 50-100 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® R120 (manufactured May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs. booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® R120 (prior May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-80 lbs.(with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® RXT Just My Color | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the child's left hand side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-80 lbs.(with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® RXT (manufactured May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the child's left hand side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-80 lbs. booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® RXT (prior May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-80 lbs.(with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
radian® XTSL | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-80 lbs.(with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
rainier® 2AX | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-80 lbs.(with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: 40-57 in. | |
rainier® 2AXT | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-50 lbs. f-f: 20-65 lbs booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
rainier® (manufactured May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the child's left hand side of the seat | r-f: 5-50 lbs. f-f: 20-90 lbs booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. booster: <57 in. | |
rainier® (prior May 2016) | 10 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | r-f: 5-50 lbs. f-f: 20-90 lbs (with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. |
Diono Booster Seats Expiration Dates
| Model | Useful Life - Expiration Date | Location of DOM Label | Manual (PDF Download) | Weight Limit | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cambria | 6 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Cambria 2 | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | booster: 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Hip Backless Booster | 6 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-110 lbs. | 38-60 in. | |
Hip HighBack Booster | 6 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Everett NXT | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Monterey (Manufactured prior September 2016) | 6 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 30-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Monterey XT | 6 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Monterey XT LATCH | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Monterey 4DXT | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Monterey® 5iST FixSafe™ | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Olympia (convertible + booster) (Manufactured prior to May 2016) | 8 years (in harness mode); 12 years (in booster) - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-45 lbs. f-f: 20-70 lbs. (with harness) booster: 50-110 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. | |
Pacifica (convertible + booster) (Manufactured prior to May 2016) | 8 years (in harness mode); 12 years (in booster) - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | r-f: 5-50 lbs. f-f: 20-90 lbs. (with harness) booster: 50-120 lbs. | r-f: <44 in. f-f: <57 in. | |
Solana (Manufactured prior to 2017) | 6 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Solana | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the side of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Solana 2 | 8 years - from date of purchase | on the back of the seat | 40-120 lbs. | 38-63 in. | |
Is It Safe to Use an Expired Car Seat?
Due to the degradation of car seat materials over the useful years, the integrity would have been compromised. It may not be able to offer adequate protection in the event of a car crash which is the purpose it was made for in the first place – for safety.
As such it is not safe neither is it recommended.
How to Dispose of An Expired Car Seat?
Expired car seats or car seats that have been involved in a car crash are not to be used again and should be disposed of immediately.
Such car seats are to be disposed of by removing the seat cover, cutting the harness straps, writing “DO NOT USE, EXPIRED” on it, and then putting it in a black garbage bag before taking it to where it is to be recycled.
There is a campaign program run by Target that gives store credit for recycling used and expired seats at Target stores. Target then destroys the seats.
This is a great incentive towards discouraging parents from reusing old or expired car seats.
Resource to Other Brand Manufacturer's Expiration Dates
While you may still be interested in learning the expiration dates on other brands, I have articles written on the following brands:
Final wrap Up
While this Diono car seat expiration guide focused on when do Diono car seats expire, extensive guide was made on the expiration dates of all Diono car seats from convertibles, all-in-ones to booster seats.
On the one hand, a key takeaway should be on understanding why car seats expire in the first place.
Using an expired car seat is not recommended and you should not be in the practice of that. Better safe than sorry.
On the other hand, proper disposal is necessary. While taking away a risk from you, try not to put it on others—no need to gift an expired seat.
Recycling programs are available, donations to CPSTs centers are also great.
Cheers to a great future with your kids.
