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78J00-03E
Passenger Folding SeatbackThe front passenger’s seatback may fold
flat.
To fold the seatback, do the following:
1) Lower the head restraint all the way.
2) Lift the bar under the front of the seat to
unlock it. Slide the seat as far back as it
will go and release the bar. Try to move
the seat back and forth to make sure it
is locked into place.
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3) Lift the recliner lever, located on the
outboard side of the seat, up fully and
fold the seatback forward until it disen-
gages.
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4) Continue to fold the seat forward until it
locks in the folded position.
5) Pull up on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
WARNING
If you fold the seatback forward to
carry longer objects, such as skis, be
sure any such cargo is not near an
airbag. In a crash, an inflating airbag
might force that object toward a per-
son. This could cause severe injury
or even death. Secure objects away
from the area in which an airbag
would inflate. For more information,
refer to “Where Are the Airbags?” in
this section and refer to “Loading
Your Vehicle” in “Your Driving, the
Road, and Your Vehicle” in the “Driv-
ing Your Vehicle” section.
WARNING
Things you put on this seatback can
strike and injure people in a sudden
stop or turn, or in a crash. Remove or
secure all items before driving.
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To raise the seatback, do the following:
1) Lift the recliner lever, located on the
outboard side of the seat, up fully and
push up on the seatback.
2) Continue raising the seatback until the
seatback re-engages.
3) Push and pull on the seatback to make
sure it is locked in place.
The recliner lever is also used to recline
the seatback while a passenger is seated.
Refer to “Manual Reclining Seatbacks” in
this section.
Rear SeatsSplit Folding the Second Row SeatThe second row split bench seatbacks
have four available positions – folded for-
ward, upright, partially reclined, or fully
reclined. Both of the seatbacks can be
moved to any of the four positions indepen-
dent of the other seatback position. To fold the seatback down, do the follow-
ing:
1) Ensure all three of the safety belts are
unbuckled and removed from the child
comfort guide, and the front seatbacks
are not reclined.
2) Lower the headrest.
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3) Lift the lever located on the top of the
seatback to release the seatback.
4) Fold the seatback forward.
WARNING
If the seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or
crash. That could cause injury to the
person sitting there. Always push
and pull on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
WARNING
If the seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or
crash. That could cause injury to the
person sitting there. Always push
and pull on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached, or
twisted will not provide the protection
needed in a crash. The person wear-
ing the belt could be seriously
injured. After raising the rear seat-
back, always check to be sure that
the safety belts are properly routed
and attached, and are not twisted.
CAUTION
Folding a rear seat with the safety
belts still fastened may cause dam-
age to the seat or the safety belts.
Always unbuckle the safety belts and
return them to their normal stowed
position before folding a rear seat.
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78J00-03E
5) Push and pull on the seatback to make
sure it is locked.
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1) Lift and hold the lever located on top of
the seatback.
2) Tilt the seatback rearward, then release
the lever when the seatback is in the
desired position.
3) Push and pull on the seatback to make
sure it is locked.
Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s)
To fold and tumble the seat, do the follow-
ing:
1) Make sure that there is nothing under,
in front of, or on the seat.2) Fold the seatback forward.
Leaving the seatback in this position
creates a flat load floor.
If the seatback cannot fold flat, try mov-
ing the front seat forward and/or put the
front seatback in the upright position.
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3) Use the pullstrap to release the rear of
the seat from the floor. As you use the
pullstrap, pull forward on the seat to lift
it into its tumbled position.Returning the Seat(s) to the Sitting
Position
To return the seat to the sitting position, do
the following:
1) Pull the seat down until it latches to the
floor. Push and pull on the seat cushion
to make sure it is locked.
2) Lift the seatback and push it rearward.
Push and pull on the seatback to make
sure it is locked.
WARNING
Be sure to return the seat to the pas-
senger seating position when fin-
ished. Push and pull on the seat to
make sure it is locked into place.
Never use the third row seating posi-
tion while the second row is folded,
or folded and tumbled. This could
cause injury in a sudden stop or
crash.
CAUTION
Folding a rear seat with the safety
belts still fastened may cause dam-
age to the seat or the safety belts.
Always unbuckle the safety belts and
return them to their normal stowed
position before folding a rear seat.
WARNING
If the seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or
crash. That could cause injury to the
person sitting there. Always push
and pull on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
Do not hit or entrap any part of a third
row seat occupant’s body when
returning the folded or tumbled sec-
ond row seat to the floor.
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Third Row SeatIf the vehicle has a third row seat, the seat-
back(s) can be folded.
Folding the Seatback(s)
To fold the seatback, do the following:
1) Remove all items on the seat cushion.
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2) Lift the lever, located on the top of the
seatback on the outboard side of the
seat and fold the seatback forward.Unfolding the Seatback(s)
To return the seatback to the upright posi-
tion, do the following:
1) Open the liftgate to access the pullstrap
for the seat.
2) Use the pullstrap on the seatback to
pull the seatback up until it locks into
the upright position.
3) Push and pull on the seatback to make
sure it is locked.
WARNING
Be sure to return the seat to the pas-
senger seating position when fin-
ished. Push and pull on the seat to
make sure it is locked into place.
Never use the third row seating posi-
tion while the second row is folded,
or folded and tumbled. This could
cause injury in a sudden stop or
crash.
CAUTION
Folding a rear seat with the safety
belts still fastened may cause dam-
age to the seat or the safety belts.
Always unbuckle the safety belts and
return them to their normal stowed
position before folding a rear seat.
WARNING
If the seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or
crash. That could cause injury to the
person sitting there. Always push
and pull on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
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Question:
What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder
belt, but the child is so small that the
shoulder belt is very close to the child’s
face or neck?
Answer:
If the child is sitting in a seat next to a win-
dow, move the child toward the center of
the vehicle. Also refer to “Rear Safety Belt
Comfort Guides” in this section. If the child
is sitting in the center rear seat passenger
position, move the child toward the safety
belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the
shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
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Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of
the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the child’s thighs.
This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic
bones in a crash.
Infants and Young ChildrenEveryone in a vehicle needs protection!
This includes infants and all other children.
Neither the distance traveled nor the age
and size of the traveler changes the need,
for everyone, to use safety restraints. In
fact, the law in every state in the United
States and in every Canadian province
says children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the protection
provided by appropriate restraints. Young
children should not use the vehicle’s adult
safety belts alone, unless there is no other
choice. Instead, they need to use a child
restraint.
WARNING
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that
has a lap-shoulder belt, but the
shoulder part is behind the child. If
the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then
be applied right on the child’s abdo-
men. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
WARNING
Children can be seriously injured or
strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and the
safety belt continues to tighten.
Never leave children unattended in a
vehicle and never allow children to
play with the safety belts.
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The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint state the
weight and height limitations for a particu-
lar child restraint. In addition, there are
many kinds of restraints available for chil-
dren with special needs.
Child Restraint Systems
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An infant car bed (A), a special bed made
for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant
restraint system designed to restrain or
position a child on a continuous flat sur-
face. Make sure that the infant’s head rests
toward the center of the vehicle.
WARNING
Newborn infants need complete sup-
port, including support for the head
and neck. This is necessary because
a newborn infant’s neck is weak and
its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles
into the restraint, so the crash forces
can be distributed across the stron-
gest part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants always should
be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
WARNING
The body structure of a young child
is quite unlike that of an adult or
older child, for whom the safety belts
are designed. A young child’s hip
bones are still so small that the vehi-
cle’s regular safety belt may not
remain low on the hip bones, as it
should. Instead, it may settle up
around the child’s abdomen. In a
crash, the belt would apply force on a
body area that is unprotected by any
bony structure. This alone could
cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
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78J00-03E
to Put the Restraint” in this section for
additional information.Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System
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A. Passenger’s side rear seat lower
anchors
B. Center rear seat lower anchors
C. Driver’s side rear seat lower anchors
Make sure to attach the child restraint at
the proper anchor location.
This system is designed to make installa-
tion of child restraints easier. When using
lower anchors, do not use the vehicle’s
safety belts. Instead use the vehicle’s
anchors and child restraint attachments to
secure the restraints. Some restraints also
use another vehicle anchor to secure a top
tether.
1) Attach and tighten the lower attach-
ments to the lower anchors. If the child
restraint does not have lower attach-
ments or the desired seating position
does not have lower anchors, secure
WARNING
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not
attached to anchors, the restraint will
not be able to protect the child cor-
rectly. 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.
WARNING
Each top tether anchor and lower
anchor in the vehicle is designed to
hold only one child restraint. Attach-
ing 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 oth-
ers could be injured if this happens.
To help prevent injury to people and
damage to your vehicle, attach only
one child restraint per anchor.
WARNING
Children can be seriously injured or
strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and the
safety belt continues to tighten.
Secure any unused safety belts
behind the child restraint so children
cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder
belt all the way out of the retractor to
set the lock, if your vehicle has one,
after the child restraint has been
installed. Be sure to follow the
instructions of the child restraint
manufacturer.
CAUTION
Contact between the child restraint or
the LATCH attachment parts and the
vehicle’s safety belt assembly may
cause damage to these parts. Make
sure when securing unused safety
belts behind the child restraint that
there is no contact between the child
restraint or the LATCH attachment
parts and the vehicle’s safety belt
assembly.
Folding an empty rear seat with the
safety belts secured may cause dam-
age to the safety belt or the seat.
When removing the child restraint,
always remember to return the safety
belts to their normal, stowed position
before folding the rear seat.
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78J00-03E
impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows
down. For roof-mounted rollover airbags,
inflation is determined by the location and
severity of the impact or a rollover event.What Makes an Airbag Inflate?In an impact of sufficient severity, the air-
bag sensing system detects that the vehi-
cle is in a crash. In the case of a roof-
mounted rollover airbag, the sensing sys-
tem detects that the vehicle is about to roll
over or has been in a severe frontal or side
impact. The sensing system triggers a
release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the airbag. The inflator, airbag, and
related hardware are all part of the airbag
modules inside the steering wheel and in
the instrument panel in front of the right
front passenger. For vehicles with roof-
mounted rollover airbags, the airbag mod-
ules are located in the ceiling of the vehi-
cle, near the side windows.
If your vehicle has a third row seat with
roof-mounted rollover airbags, the airbag
modules are located inside the rear-most
pillar trim and above in the ceiling above
the fixed rear glass.How Does an Airbag Restrain?In moderate to severe frontal or near fron-
tal collisions, even belted occupants can
contact the steering wheel or the instru-
ment panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can con-
tact the inside of the vehicle. Airbags sup-plement the protection provided by safety
belts. Airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the occupant's
upper body, stopping the occupant more
gradually. But the frontal airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occu-
pant's motion is not toward the airbag.
Roof-mounted rollover airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions,
including many frontal or near frontal colli-
sions, and rear impacts.
Airbags should never be regarded as any-
thing more than a supplement to safety
belts, and then only in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal collisions for the
driver's and right front passenger’s frontal
airbags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions or rollovers for vehicles with
roof-mounted rollover airbags.
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?After a frontal airbag inflates, it quickly
deflates, so quickly that some people may
not even realize an airbag inflated. Roof-
mounted rollover airbags may still be at
least partially inflated minutes after the
vehicle comes to rest. Some components
of the airbag module – the steering wheel
hub for the driver's airbag, the instrument
panel for the right front passenger's airbag,
and the area along the ceiling of the vehi-
cle near the side windows for vehicles withroof-mounted side impact airbags – may
be hot for a short time. The parts of the air-
bag that come into contact with you may
be warm, but not too hot to touch. There
may be some smoke and dust coming from
the vents in the deflated airbags. Airbag
inflation does not prevent the driver from
seeing out of the windshield or being able
to steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
Your vehicle has a feature that may auto-
matically unlock the doors, turn the interior
lamps on, and flash the hazard warning
flashers when the airbags inflate. You can
lock the doors again, turn the interior
lamps off, and turn off the hazard warning
flashers by using the controls for those
features.
WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there may be
dust in the air. This dust could cause
breathing problems for people with a
history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing
problems but cannot get out of the
vehicle after an airbag inflates, then
get fresh air by opening a window or
a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deploy-
ment, you should seek medical atten-
tion.