ISOFIX

📖 YOUCANIC Automotive Glossary

ISOFIX (International Standards Organisation FIX) is the standardized attachment system for child car seats that provides a direct, rigid connection between the child seat and the vehicle body structure without using the vehicle’s seat belt. ISOFIX uses two anchor points built into the vehicle seat frame (located at the junction of the seat back and cushion) and a top tether anchor point behind the seat. The child seat has corresponding rigid connectors that click directly into the vehicle anchors, providing a more secure and easier installation than seat belt-based systems. In the US, the equivalent system is called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children).

ISOFIX/LATCH anchor failures or deformation can occur in vehicle collisions, reducing their structural integrity. After any collision involving rear passenger areas, ISOFIX anchor inspection should be part of the repair verification. Some vehicles have ISOFIX indicators on the seat and some advanced models include ISOFIX sensors that detect child seat installation status, feeding this information to the SRS system to adjust airbag deployment strategies for the rear seating positions.