Component
Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle)
33 NHTSA complaints about tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle) issues across 15 makes and 28 models.
The tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle) is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 33 filings from 15 manufacturers and 28 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the SUBARU CROSSTREK with 2 filings, followed by FORD FUSION and FORD EXPLORER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUBARU CROSSTREK | 2 |
| 2 | FORD FUSION | 2 |
| 3 | FORD EXPLORER | 2 |
| 4 | CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | 2 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | 2 |
| 6 | TOYOTA REDUNDANT SIENNA | 1 |
| 7 | TOYOTA RAV4 | 1 |
| 8 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 1 |
| 9 | TESLA MODEL Y | 1 |
| 10 | SUBARU FORESTER | 1 |
| 11 | SUBARU ASCENT | 1 |
| 12 | PONTIAC VIBE | 1 |
| 13 | NISSAN PATHFINDER | 1 |
| 14 | NISSAN MURANO | 1 |
| 15 | MAZDA MAZDA3 | 1 |
| 16 | KIA SOUL | 1 |
| 17 | JEEP RENEGADE | 1 |
| 18 | HONDA PILOT | 1 |
| 19 | HONDA ODYSSEY | 1 |
| 20 | GMC ACADIA | 1 |
| 21 | FORD FLEX | 1 |
| 22 | FORD F-350 | 1 |
| 23 | DODGE JOURNEY | 1 |
| 24 | DODGE DURANGO | 1 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET VOLT | 1 |
| 26 | BMW X5 | 1 |
| 27 | BMW I4 XDRIVE40 | 1 |
| 28 | AUDI Q5 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a Chicco NextFit car seat. The anchor tab on my childâs car seat has become visibly stressed and appears to be failing after only two years of normal use. Th
Pipa Rx Aire base latch system appeared to latch when it wasnât secured to the anchor. I moved the base between vehicles. When reattaching the base, the right indicator clicked and turned green with
While the car seat was properly installed and being used under normal conditions, the top tether strap pulled free from the anchor point. This caused the car seat to no longer be safely secured. The t
Nuna had a major recall for their rava convertible car seats as your organization is aware of. However, there are two main issues that I'm having that Nuna has refused to address nor do they have a vi
The car seat snug lock feature in the forward facing position does NOT create a snug fit and becomes loose over time. BOTH of my turn2me seats do this. Purchased on the same day. We recently forward
Install progressively loosens over a couple days and must be reinstalled at least once a week. Used as directed in manufacturers instructions. I have video with date stamps to show
[XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Date: 04/06/2025 To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Subject: Urgent Safety Complaint Regarding
Product Safety Alert: Mar 19, 2025 Stop using the following item because of a potential safety issue. Visit the public recall notice for more guidance. Evenflo GoTime LX Booster Car Seat (Chardon Bla
Using the seat belt with the safe lock feature for rear facing, the car seat becomes loose within 2-3 times using it with my daughter. We have to have her out, undo the safe lock and pull the seat bel
The front drive car seat motor is damaged. It will not recline making it very uncomfortable to drive. GMC has inspected the car and indicated that i need a new motor and seat frame. The cost is over
The lower latch/tether fails to secure the car seat. Any time that the lower latch is tightened for installation, it becomes loose within an hour of installation. The car and car seat were taken to th
I purchased these Carseats after I was in an accident and needed to replace the 2 that I had, The tethers attached to the carseat were not effective at all, I could not get them anywhere near close to
I have had to re-install the seat multiple times in the last 2-3 weeks because it keeps coming loose in rear facing mode. I installed the seat in early to mid-March. I first noticed it was loose on 4/
This seat is impossible to install safely in most vehicles. I have installed it into 4-5 different vehicles including cars, trucks, and SUVs. In every case but one it was impossible to install tightly
The cup holder on the car seat is damaged, as it broke from the car seat at the time of the incident. The hook in which buckles the car seat to the car is stuck and no longer pulls out nor in, No long
My issue is with the vehicle's car seat latches. The latches in the Chevy Trailblazer (Manufactured) are designed in a way that is unsafe and also hard to install a car seat for children who are 2 and
When this seat is first installed with the seat belt, it has a tight fit. However, the install seems to loosen for no apparent reason on its own. This occurs frequently. The seat is properly installed
The snuglock technology is a joke on this seat. It doesnât matter if itâs latch or seatbelt installed the lock off isnât holding it in position. Over time it becomes loose and the seat is moving
The car seat base was not secure to the seat after installing. We installed the car seat rear facing to bring home our expecting newborn and noticed how much the base moved around not only side to sid
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-350. The contact stated while attaching a Graco Safety First with the latch system, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not equipped with the lower latch for t
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle) issues? ▼
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.