Nearly a million car owners need to buckle down about getting their LATCH fixed, according to the latest data from Carfax.

The provider of vehicle history reports said more than 983,000 vehicles currently on U.S. roads have open recalls for defective LATCH connectors, an issue that potentially putting millions of children at risk.

LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, a child-seat anchoring system required in most vehicles since 2003 using built-in metal anchors and tethers to secure car seats without relying on seat belts.

The anchors are a safety feature designed to hold the seats firmly in place, keeping children properly restrained during the vehicle’s operation and especially in a crash.

Carfax said its analysis showed hundreds of thousands of vehicles, including a wide range of makes and model years, have been recalled in recent years for child-seat anchor defects, including faulty welds, misaligned anchors and coatings that could interfere with or prevent proper installation.

In a post this week on the company’s Recall Tracker blog, Carfax editor-on-chief Patrick Olsen cited several recent recalls, including one last month by Toyota that 39 of its 2024-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs because third-row center seat belt roof anchor might have been installed at an incorrect angle, and a 2023 recall of more than 668,000 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs for possible excessive powder coating on anchorage bars, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the bars.

“LATCH systems are designed to protect our most vulnerable passengers,” Carfax vice president of data Faisal Hasan said. “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.”

Not surprisingly, the four most populous states — California (132,900), Texas (89,800), Florida (60,700) and New York (51,400) — have the most vehicles with unfixed LATCH recalls.

Carfax said car owners should check for open recalls. Free tools are available including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s open recall check and Carfax’s Recall Tracker. If the vehicle has a recall, contact a dealership or the manufacturer for a no-cost repair.

The company also recommended becoming familiar with the two types of anchors — lower anchors and tether anchors. Know where they’re located and consult the vehicle and car seat manuals for guidance, as proper use is critical.

Carfax said studies have shown child restraint misuse rates remain significant even with LATCH systems, underscoring the importance of correct installation.