New data complied by Carfax reveals that nearly a million vehicles in the U.S. have open recalls for defective child seat anchors, potentially putting millions of children at risk. 

Lower anchors and tethers for children, or Latch, is a child seat anchoring system that became a required standard in the U.S. in 2003. The built-in anchors and tethers help keep child seats safely in place without relying on seat belts. 

“LATCH systems are designed to protect our most vulnerable passengers,” said Faisal Hasan, vice president of Data at Carfax. “These recalls are not isolated to just one automaker or model year, so parents should check right away if their vehicle has an open recall and schedule free repairs as soon as possible.”

According to the data, hundreds of thousands of vehicles have been recalled in recent years for defects including faulty welds, misaligned anchors, and coatings that could interfere with or prevent proper installation. In December alone, the following models had Latch recalls: Volvo electric vehicles; Audi cars, SUVs and EVs; Ford EVs and pickup trucks and Ford Escape SUVs; and Porsche cars, SUVs and EVs. 

It's important for consumers to know the two types of anchors – lower anchors and tether anchors – and where they are located in their vehicles. Consumers can check for open recalls at carfax.com/recall and call their dealership to schedule necessary repairs.