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Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH)
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 that has 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.
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).
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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 child restraints that have top tethers 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. 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.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor
Locations
Rear Seat
i(Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
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The right side rear passenger and center seating
positions have exposed metal anchors located in the
crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.
To assist you in locating
the top tether anchors, the
top tether anchor symbol
is located near the top
tether anchors.
The top tether anchors are located on the back of the
rear seat frame above the floor for each rear seating
position. Fold down the rear seatback(s) to access the
anchors. SeeRear Seat Operation
on page 2‑9.
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.
Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a
top tether anchor 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.
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According to accident statistics, children and infants
are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint
system or infant restraint system secured in a rear
seating position. SeeWhere to Put the Restraint
on
page 2‑37for additional information.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System
{WARNING:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to
anchors, the child restraint will not be able to
protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child
could be seriously injured or killed. Install a
LATCH-type child restraint properly using the
anchors, or use the vehicle's safety belts to
secure the restraint, following the instructions that
came with the child restraint and the instructions
in this manual.
{WARNING:
Do not attach more than one child restraint to a
single anchor. 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. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries during a crash, 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. Buckle 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.
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Notice:Do not let the LATCH attachments rub
against the vehicle’ s safety belts. This may damage
these parts. If necessary, move buckled safety belts
to avoid rubbing the LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat with a safety belt
buckled. This could damage the safety belt or the
seat. Unbuckle and return the safety belt to its
stowed position, before folding the seat.
1. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach the top tether to
the top tether anchor, if there is one. Refer to the
child restraint instructions and the following steps:
1. 1. To access the top tether anchors, raise the seat cushion by pulling up on the strap loop
at the rear of the seat cushion and fold the
seat cushion forward. Then fold the seatback
forward until it is flat. See Rear Seat
Operation
on page 2‑9for additional
information.
1. 2. Place the child restraint in the vehicle, near the seating position that you are using. 1. 3. Route the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the following
instructions:
If the position you are
using does not have a
headrest or head restraint
and you are using a
single tether, route the
tether over the seatback.
If the position you are
using does not have a
headrest or head restraint
and you are using a dual
tether, route the tether
over the seatback.
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If the position you are
using has an adjustable
headrest or head restraint
and you are using a dual
tether, route the tether
around the headrest or
head restraint .
If the position you are
using has an adjustable
headrest or head restraint
and you are using a
single tether, raise the
headrest or head restraint
and route the tether under
the headrest or head
restraint and in between
the headrest or head
restraint posts.
1. 4. Attach the top tether attachment to the top tether anchor.
{WARNING:
If either 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 seatbacks to be sure they
are locked.
1. 5. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward. Then lower the seat cushion until the
seatback and the seat cushion lock into
position.
2. Attach 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.
2. 1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.
2. 2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. 3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors.
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3. Tighten the top tether.
4. Push and pull the child restraint in differentdirections to be sure it is secure.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position
When securing a child restraint in a rear seating
position, study the instructions that came with the child
restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.
If the child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on
page 2‑39for how and where to install the child
restraint using LATCH. If you secure a child restraint
using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on
page 2‑39for top tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a
top tether anchor 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 strap must
be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child
restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
If the child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you will be using the safety 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.
If more than one child restraint needs to be installed
in the rear seat, be sure to read
Where to Put the
Restraint on page 2‑37.
If the 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 see Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH) on page 2‑39.
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.
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3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.Position the release button on the buckle so that
the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock.
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