Transport Canada has issued a warning about possible safety issues with the Designer 22 car seat following additional testing

The seat is sold under the brand names Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Safety 1st and Quinny and is made by Dorel Distribution Canada.

Though the rear-facing Designer 22 infant restraint system meets mandatory safety standards, new research shows that when the seat is used with its base, there is a chance the two components might separate or the base might crack in a severe, frontal car accident. The research was done beyond what is considered mandatory testing.

"There have been no reported injuries or confirmed base-to-seat separation occurrences," Dorel said in a statement Thursday. "The testing was conducted under extreme test conditions which do not at all replicate standard Canadian safety standards."

As the seat can be installed without the base, Transport Canada is advising consumers to remove it and to use a seat belt to restrain the seat, following the manufacturer's instructions. This installation information is found on page 28 of the Dorel manual that is sold with the car seat. If the manual has been lost or is missing, Dorel will issue a replacement copy. Consumers are advised to call 1-866-556-0029 to receive one.

The car seats should not be returned to the stores in which they were purchased, according to Transport Canada.

Manufacturer information, such as the date of manufacture and the model name and number, is found on the bottom of the infant seat.

The advisory affects 260,000 units manufactured between Jan.1, 2001 and March 19, 2009.