Nearly a decade after safety concerns were first raised, unsafe car seats, dubbed 'killer car seats' by UK authorities, are still being sold online, posing serious risks to children.

These seats have critical safety defects such as a thin base, lack of a central harness release, and no side impact protection, all essential features for child safety during crashes.

Listings often include warnings against use in high-speed vehicles and are marketed for non-motorized vehicles, indicating non-compliance with established safety standards.

Experts advise parents to verify that car seats have approval labels like ECE R44-03, R44-04, or R129, and to avoid secondhand options, especially those sold cheaply from untrusted sources.

Platforms such as eBay, Shein, Wish, and Little Dreams have responded by removing unsafe listings and emphasizing compliance with safety regulations.

While some sellers like Shein have removed problematic listings and claim to prioritize safety, the issue persists due to third-party sales and counterfeit products.

Authorities and police are calling for stronger regulation and enforcement of online product safety laws, as the reappearance of these dangerous seats highlights regulatory failures.

The UK government has recently strengthened consumer safety laws through the Product Regulation and Metrology Act, but experts argue that online marketplaces should be held directly responsible for ensuring product safety.

These illegal car seats are priced between £12.50 and just under £40, significantly cheaper than certified models, which can start around £80, making them attractive to families under financial pressure.

The lower prices of these unregulated seats raise concerns that financially struggling families might opt for unsafe options, risking their children's safety.

The reappearance of unsafe products, reminiscent of incidents in 2014 involving flimsy fabric seats that failed in crash tests, indicates that illegal and unsafe products are re-entering the market.