A 2025 NHTSA report found 74% of inspected car seats were improperly installed, risking child safety in crashes.

A 2025 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report found that 74% of nearly 60,000 inspected car seats were improperly installed, with common errors involving seat belts, harnesses, and tethers. Experts urge parents to ensure seats move no more than one inch side to side or front to back, lock seat belts by pulling them out until a click is heard, use the correct belt path for rear- or forward-facing positions, and adjust harness straps to the proper shoulder height—slightly above or below shoulders depending on orientation. Harnesses must be snug, with no pinchable webbing, chest clips at armpit level, and crotch buckles positioned at the front of the lap. Proper installation is critical, as crashes remain a leading cause of child fatalities.