SFI Safety Notifications August 2022

Fake SFI 16.1 Spec ‘KYOSTAR’ Driver Restraints

Please note that SFI has found KYOSTAR BRAND harnesses displaying SFI 16.1 conformance labels but not conforming to SFI Specification 16.1.

KYOSTAR is not enrolled in any SFI program. SFI Specification 16.1 requires the certifying manufacturer’s name to appear on the harness, even when sold as a different brand under a private label agreement. The only brand visible on this harness is KYOSTAR.

It should be noted that for any spec program, certification that products meet the minimum standards is made by the submitting manufacturer. Products are NOT certified, endorsed, or approved by SFI.

KYOSTAR has not submitted a harness for testing by SFI, but SFI has purchased a KYOSTAR harness through Ebay, tested it, and found that it falls short of the performance requirements of SFI Specification 16.1. During the test, the camlock buckle failed under load, releasing the seat belts.

Necessary measures should be taken to ensure these dangerously substandard harnesses are not used in any vehicle. Please contact SFI with any concerns or inquiries about questionable product. The following illustrations should assist in visually identifying the affected parts:

Example of the non-compliant KYOSTAR harness.

Fake SFI 3.2A ‘Tax Racewear LLC’ suits

SFI is aware of driver suits being falsely represented as certified to SFI specification 3.2A through images appearing as SFI conformance labels via a Facebook page by Trax Racewear LLC. Trax Racewear LLC is not enrolled in the SFI 3.2A or 3.4 (Driver
Suits) programs.

Example of the Facebook post about fake SFI 3.2A driver suits

It should be noted that for any spec program, certification that products meet the minimum standards is made by the submitting manufacturer. Products are NOT certified, endorsed or approved by SFI.

Retailers and other entities looking for suppliers to market products certified by their manufacturers to SFI specifications under private label agreements should check the list of participating manufacturers list on SFI’s website: https://sfifoundation.com/manufacturer-list/

Also, SFI Specifications require that the certifying manufacturer’s name or logo appear on or in the product, even when another name or logo also appears on the product due private branding.

False SFI Spec 16.1 ‘TANAKA’ restraints

SFI has discovered TANAKA driver restraint assemblies falsely represented as certified to SFI specification 16.1 and currently being sold through Ebay and Amazon. TANAKA was removed from the SFI 16.1 program in January of 2019 due to testing failures and unauthorized use of SFI labels. TANAKA does not have the legal right to use the SFI logo, term, or label. TANAKA products do not conform to SFI specification 16.1.

Example of the false SFI Spec ‘TANAKA’ restraints.

It should be noted that for any spec program, certification that products meet the minimum standards is made by the submitting manufacturer. Products are NOT certified, endorsed or approved by SFI.

Retailers and other entities looking for suppliers to market products certified by their manufacturers to SFI specifications under private label agreements should check the list of participating manufacturers list on SFI’s website: https://sfifoundation.com/manufacturer-list/

Also, SFI Specifications require that the certifying manufacturer’s name or logo appear on or in the product, even when another name or logo also appears on the product due private branding.