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Q:How Should I Use a Child Restraint?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce
injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured
in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child
restraints, the child has to be secured within the
child restraint.
When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure
the child restraint is designed to be used in a
vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it
meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint.
You may nd these instructions on the restraint
itself or in a booklet, or both.
Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in
the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a
crash if the child restraint is not properly
secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child
restraint is properly installed in the vehicle
using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH
system, following the instructions that came
with that restraint, and also the instructions in
this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint
must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems
must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the
lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH
system. SeeLower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) on page 1-46for more information. A child can
be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not
properly secured in the vehicle.
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Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor
Locations
j(Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors. Crew Cab — Rear Seat
Extended
Cab — Rear Seat
Front Seat — Regular
and Extended Cab
without Rear Seats
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For crew cab models, there are exposed metal lower
anchors for each rear outboard seating position,
located where the seatback meets the back of the
seat cushion.
For extended cab models with rear seats, there are
exposed metal lower anchors for each rear seating
position, attached to the back wall, near the seat
cushion.
To assist you in locating the lower anchors, place your
hand in a palm-up position and reach up between
the seat cushion and the seatback.
The top tether anchors in a crew cab model are located
on the back wall behind each rear seating position.
Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of
the vehicle as the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.
The top tether anchors in an extended cab model are
located on the center of the back wall behind a
removable cover for the rear seating positions. Be sure
to use an anchor located nearest to the seating
position where the child restraint will be placed.Crew Cab
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For regular and extended cab models without rear
seats, there is a top tether anchor located behind a
removable cover on the back wall behind the right front
passenger seat. You may have to pull the seatback
forward to access the anchor.Do not secure a child restraint in the right front
passenger’s position of a vehicle that has rear seats if a
national or local law requires that the top tether be
attached, or if the instructions that come with the child
restraint say that the top tether must be attached.
There is no place to attach the top tether in this position.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
SeeWhere to Put the Restraint on page 1-44for
additional information.
Extended Cab — Rear Seat
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3. Tighten the lower anchor attachments and the top
tether. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
4. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
Front Seat — Regular/Extended Cab
without Rear Seats
Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag and a
passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag when an infant in a rear-facing infant
seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or
booster seat is detected. SeeSecuring a Child
Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-59
andPassenger Sensing System on page 1-72for
important safety information and additional information
on installing a child restraint in the right front seat
position.
1. SeeSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 1-59for instructions on
installing the child restraint using the safety belts.2. If the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions
recommends that the top tether be attached,
attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether
anchor. Refer to the child restraint instructions and
the following steps:
2.1. Pull the seatback forward to access the top
tether anchor. SeeSeatback Latches on
page 1-9.
2.2. Pull on the nger access tab to remove the
cover to access the top tether anchor.
2.3. Route the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the following
instructions:
If the position you are
using has a xed head
restraint and you are using
a single tether, route the
tether over the head
restraint.
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If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, never put a
child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger seat the unless passenger airbag status
indicator shows off. Never put a rear facing child
restraint in the right front passenger seat unless the
airbag is off. Here is why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag in ates. This is because
the back of the rear facing child restraint
would be very close to the in ating airbag. Be
sure the airbag is off before using a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front seat position.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be transported
in vehicles with a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint,
whenever possible.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat position, move the seat as far
back as it will go before securing the forward-facing
child restraint. SeePower Seats on page 1-3orManual
Seats on page 1-2.
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) on page 1-46.
If your vehicle has rear seats, there is no top tether
anchor at the right front seating position. Do not secure
a child seat in this position if a national or local law
requires that the top tether be anchored or if the
instructions that come with the child restraint say that
the top tether must be anchored. SeeLower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-46if
the child restraint has a top tether.
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You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the
instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when and as the
instructions say.
1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal
airbag. SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 1-72. We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is off. If your child restraint is
forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will
go before securing the child restraint in this
seat. SeePower Seats on page 1-3orManual
Seats on page 1-2.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off
indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator
should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to
ON or START. SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 3-27.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the
lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder
belt back into the retractor. If you are using a
forward-facing child restraint, you may nd it helpful
to use your knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt. You should not be
able to pull more of the belt from the retractor
once the lock has been set.
7. If your vehicle does not have rear seats and if your
child restraint has a top tether, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether anchor. SeeLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on
page 1-46.
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