Page 45 of 434
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH)
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH system
holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This
system is designed to make installation of a child restraint
easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle
and attachments on the child restraint that are made for
use with the LATCH system
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is
properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s
safety belts to secure the restraint, following the
instructions that came with that restraint, and also the
instructions in this manual. When installing a child
restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the
lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the
child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed
using only the top tether and anchor.
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you
need a child restraint equipped with LATCH attachments.
The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with
instructions on how to use the child restraint and its
attachments. The following explains how to attach a
child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle.
Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors.
Your child restraint may have lower attachments and
a top tether.Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have
lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors
and attachments.Lower Anchors
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle.
There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating
position that will accommodate a child restraint with
lower attachments (B).
1-39
ProCarManuals.com
Page 46 of 434
Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint
to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle.
The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint
connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order
to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child
restraint during driving or in a crash.Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a
dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B)
to secure the top tether to the anchor.
Some top tether-equipped child restraints are designed
for use with or without the top tether being attached.
Others require the top tether always to be attached.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be
attached. In the United States, some child restraints
also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your child restraint.
If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one
can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.
1-40
ProCarManuals.com
Page 47 of 434
Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor
Locations
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with top
tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
To assist you in locating
the lower anchors, each
seating position with lower
anchors has two labels,
near the crease between
the seatback and the seat
cushion, showing where
the anchors are located.The labels are located above a ap, at the base of the
seatback, in the rear outside seating positions. The
anchors are located under the ap. In order to get to the
anchors you will need to pull the strap at the center of
the seat where the seat cushion meets the seatback.
This will allow you to fold the seat cushion up and out of
the way. Lift the ap to expose the anchors and then
lower the seat cushion. Be sure the cushion is
locked into place.
The top tether anchors for each rear seating position
are located on the oor in the cargo area of your vehicle.
Do not use the rear tie-down brackets near the liftgate
for top tethers. 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.
Second Row
1-41
ProCarManuals.com
Page 48 of 434
Do not secure a child restraint in the right front
passenger’s position or in the third row seating position,
if the vehicle has one, 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. See
Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-38for additional
information.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to
anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect
the child correctly. In a crash, the child could
be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a
LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed
using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety
belts to secure the restraint, following the
instructions that came with that restraint,
and also the instructions in this manual.
1-42
ProCarManuals.com
Page 49 of 434
{CAUTION:
Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in the
vehicle is designed to hold only one child
restraint. Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could cause the
anchor or attachment to come loose or even
break during a crash. A child or others could be
injured if this happens. To help prevent injury to
people and damage to your vehicle, attach only
one child restraint per anchor.
1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower
anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower
attachments or the desired seating position does
not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint
with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your
child restraint manufacturer instructions and the
instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired
seating position.1.2. Pull the strap at the center of the seat where
the seat cushion meets the seatback. This will
allow you to fold the seat cushion up and out
of the way. Lift the ap to expose the anchors
and then lower the seat cushion. SeeRear
Seat Operation on page 1-6for additional
information. Be sure the cushion is locked
into place.
1.3. Put the child restraint on the seat.
1.4. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on
the child restraint to the lower anchors.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that
the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top
tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer
to the child restraint instructions and the following
steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor.
2.2. Route and tighten the top tether according
to your child restraint instructions and the
following instructions. If your vehicle is
equipped with a cargo shade, route the top
tether between the seatback and the cargo
shade.
1-43
ProCarManuals.com
Page 50 of 434
Fold down the head
restraint and route the
single tether under the
head restraint and in
between the head restraint
posts. SeeRear Seat
Operation on page 1-6.
Fold down the head
restraint and route the
dual tether around the head
restraint. SeeRear Seat
Operation on page 1-6.
3. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system,
seeLower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on
page 1-39.
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
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. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. 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.
1-44
ProCarManuals.com
Page 52 of 434
5. 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.6. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends
using a top tether, attach and tighten the top tether to
the top tether anchor. Refer to the instructions that
came with the child restraint and toLower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-39.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, if the top tether is attached
to the top tether anchor, disconnect it. Unbuckle the
vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The
safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work
for an adult or larger child passenger.
1-46
ProCarManuals.com
Page 53 of 434
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Rear Seat Position
Many child restraints are too wide to be correctly secured
in the center rear seat, although some of them will t
there. If the center seat position is too narrow for your
child restraint, secure it in a rear outside seat position.
If you secure a child restraint in the center seat position,
follow the instructions inSecuring a Child Restraint in
a Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-44.
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child
restraint. SeeWhere to Put the Restraint on page 1-38.
In addition, your vehicle has 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.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-61and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-30for more
information on this including important safety information.
1-47
ProCarManuals.com
