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To operate the heated seats:
•Push control to activate.
•Push again to deactivate.
REAR SEATS
To have an unobstructed rear view, you can fold down the second and
third row head restraints. Refer to theFolding down the 2nd row
60/40 seats and bucket seatsand3rd row folding seat (if equipped)
sections later in this chapter.
For instructions on how to remove the 2nd row head restraints to install
a child seat, seeChild booster seatslater in this chapter.
Folding down the 2nd row 60/40 seats and bucket seats
Ensure that the head restraint is in the down position and no objects
such as books, purses or briefcases are on the floor in front of the
second row seats before folding them down.
1. Lower the head restraints by
pulling on the strap.
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2. Locate the recline handle situated
on the side of the seat cushion by
the door.
3. Pull up on the handle and push
the seatback forward toward the
front of the vehicle.
To return the seat to the upright position (seats not equipped
with E-Z entry):
1. Pull up on the handle, and rotate
the seatback until you hear a click,
locking it in the upright position.
2. Lift up on the head restraint until
it locks into its original position.
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To return the seat to the upright position (E-Z entry equipped
seats):
1. Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle.
2. Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the upright
position.
3. If the seat is to be occupied, lift
up on the head restraint until it
locks into its original position.
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
Placing the 2nd row 60/40 seats in cargo mode (if equipped)
The 2nd row seats can be placed in a kneel down load floor position to
allow more cargo space.
To place the seats in the cargo mode:
1. Fold down the 2nd row seat. SeeFolding down the 2nd row 60/40
seats and bucket seatsabove.
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2. Lift the cargo mode lever located
on the back of the seatback to kneel
the seat down and get a flat loading
floor.
Returning to the upright position from full lowered load floor
position
The seatback cannot be returned to the upright position until the seat is
returned from the kneel down position. To return the seat to the upright
position:
1. Push the seat rearward until the
latch is engaged. Use the cushion or
seatback to return to the fold-down
position. Do not use the recliner
handle as it could cause damage to
the handle.
2. Return the seatback to the
upright position.
Adjusting the 2nd row seat for E-Z Entry
The E-Z entry seat allows for easier entry and exit to and from the 3rd
row seat.
To enter the 3rd row seat:
1. Fold down the 2nd row seat and release the handle. Refer toFolding
down the 2nd row 60/40 seats and bucket seatsearlier in this section.
Note:When folding down the seat, lift the handle only once. When the
seatback releases and folds, the handle should be released. Any further
turning of the handle while the seatback releases, may damage the
handle. Once the seatback is folded, a second lifting of the handle will
detach the seat rear leg locking mechanism from the floor allowing the
seat to tumble forward.
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2. Pull the handle up again until the
seat releases from the floor.
3. Push the seat upward and fold it
away from the third row.
Always return the seat to the fully latched position before
operating the vehicle.
Returning the seat to the upright position
Note: To return the seat from its tumbled position to its upright
position, its rear legs should first be latched to the floor by dumping the
seat down into position. The interlock mechanism will not allow the
release of the seatback until the seat’s rear legs are fully latched to the
floor. Once the rear legs are fully latched, the interlock will release the
seatback, and it can then be returned to the upright position.
To return the seat to a seating position:
1. Push the seat down and latch to
the floor with a moderate amount of
effort and speed.
2. Make sure the seat is latched to
the floor.
3. Bring the seat back to an upright
position. The seatback should lock
into position.
Note: If the seat back will not
return to the upright position,
tumble the seat again and re-latch it to the floor. Be sure that cargo or
other objects are not trapped underneath the seatback.
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4. Lift up on the head restraint until
it locks into its original position.
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
Note: In vehicles equipped with 3rd row seats, the 2nd row
recline/unlatch handle on the outboard sides of both 60% and 40% seats
should not be used as a grab handle to raise the entire seat up from
cargo mode (kneeling position), or to lower it from its tumbled position.
This handle is there only to recline the seat back and to unlatch the rear
seat/floor attachment, in order to tumble the seat in the forward
direction. To raise the seat up from the cargo mode (kneeling position),
the entire seat should be lifted up using the seat back or the seat
cushion area as a grabbing surface.
Exiting the 3rd row
1. Lower the head restraints. See
Folding down the 2nd row 60/40
seats and buckets seatsearlier in
this section.
2. Pull on the lever/strap (as
equipped) located at the bottom
right of the seat back to release the
seat from the floor, and rotate the
seat up towards the front seat.
3. Follow the directions above to
return the seatback from the load floor and to the upright position.
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3rd row folding seat (if equipped)
Before folding the third row seats,
fold the head restraints down by
pulling on the strap located under
the restraint.
Pull up on the handle located
behind the seatback while pushing
the seatback forward and down into
the seat cushion.
Before returning the seatback to its original position, make sure
that cargo or any objects are not trapped behind the seatback.
After returning the seatback to its original position, pull on the
seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An unlatched seat may
become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
3rd row power folding seat (if equipped)
Note: Be sure that head restraints are folded down before powering the
3rd row seat down.
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The control buttons are located on
the driver-side rear quarter trim
panel (accessible from the liftgate
area).
Push the bottom portion of the
control button to lower the desired
seatback.
Push the top of the control button
to return the seatback to its original
position.
The power fold down seats will operate for 30 minutes after the
ignition switch is in the 1 (OFF/Lock) position. The transmission
must be in P (Park), and the liftgate or liftgate glass must be
open. Similar to the Battery Saver feature, the power 3rd row
seat will be disabled 30 minutes after turning the vehicle off. If
the power 3rd row seat is disabled after 30 minutes, the seat can
be enabled by opening any door, pressing the unlock control on
the remote entry transmitter, pressing any keyless keypad button
(if equipped), or turning the ignition key.
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