2012 DODGE DURANGO Owners Manual

Installing The LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint
System
We urge you to carefully follow the directions of the
manufacturer when installing your child restraint. Not all
child restraint systems will be installed as described here.
Again, carefully follow the installation instructions that
were provided with the child restraint system.
The rear seat lower anchorages are round bars, located at
the rear of the seat cushion where it meets the seatback,
and are just visible when you lean into the rear seat to
install the child restraint. You will easily feel them if you
run your finger along the intersection of the seatback and
seat cushion surfaces.
Latch Anchorages (60/40 Seat)
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In addition, there are top tether strap anchorages behind
each rear seating position located on the back of the seat.
To access the top tether strap anchorages behind the rear
seat, pull the carpeted floor panel away from the seat
back, this will expose the top tether strap anchorages.
Latch Anchorages (Captain’s Chair)Pulling Down The Carpet Floor PanelTo Access Top Tether Strap
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Top Tether Strap Anchorage (Located on Seatback)Top Tether Strap Mounting (60/40 Seat)
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WARNING!
Do not use the cargo tie downs located on the load
floor. Improper usage of the tether can lead to a
failure of an infant or child restraint. The child could
be badly injured or killed.Many, but not all, restraint systems will be equipped with
separate straps on each side, with each having a hook or
connector for attachment to the lower anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension in the strap. Forward-
facing toddler restraints and some rear-facing infant
restraints will also be equipped with a tether strap, a
hook for attachment to the tether strap anchorage and a
means of adjusting the tension of the strap.
First, loosen the child seat adjusters on the lower straps
and on the tether strap so that you can more easily attach
the hooks or connectors to the vehicle anchorages. Next,
attach the lower hooks or connectors over the top of the
anchorage bars, pushing aside the seat cover material.
Then, locate the tether anchorage directly behind the seat
where you are placing the child restraint and attach the
tether strap to the anchorage, being careful to route the
tether strap to provide the most direct path between the
anchor and the child restraint.
There are three top tether
anchorages located on the back of the seat, behind the
Top Tether Strap Mounting (Captain’s Chair)
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gap panel. They are not visible until you fold the gap
panel down. Do not use the cargo tie down hooks
located on the floor behind the seat.Finally, tighten all
three straps as you push the child restraint rearward and
downward into the seat, removing slack in the straps
according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of an infant or
child restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly
when installing an infant or child restraint.
Installing Child Restraints Using The Vehicle Seat
Belts
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with an Automatic Locking Retractor to secure
a Child Restraint System (CRS). These types of seat belts
are designed to keep the lap portion of the seat belt tight
around the child restraint so that it is not necessary to use
a locking clip. The ALR will make a ratcheting noise if
you extract the entire belt from the retractor and then
allow the belt to retract into the retractor. For additional
information on ALR, refer to “Automatic Locking Mode”
description under “Seat Belts In Passenger Seating Posi-
tions” section. The chart below defines the seating posi-
tions with an Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) or a
cinching latch plate.
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Driver Center Passenger
CRS Lock CRS Lock CRS Lock
First Row N/A N/A ALR
Second Row — Captains Chair ALR N/A ALR
Second Row — Bench ALR ALR ALR
Second Row ALR ALR ALR Third Row ALR N/A ALR
•N/A — Not Applicable
•ALR — Automatic Locking Retractor
Installing a Child Restraint with an ALR:
1. To install a child restraint with ALR, first, pull enough
of the seat belt webbing from the retractor to route it
through the belt path of the child restraint. Slide the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.” Next, extract all the seat belt webbing out of the retractor and
then allow the belt to retract into the retractor. As the belt
retracts, you will hear a ratcheting sound. This indicates
the safety belt is now in the Automatic Locking mode.
2. Finally, pull on any excess webbing to tighten the lap
portion around the child restraint. Any seat belt system
will loosen with time, so check the belt occasionally, and
pull it tight if necessary.
In the rear center seat, you may have trouble tightening
the lap/shoulder belt on the child restraint because the
buckle or latch plate is too close to the belt path opening
on the restraint. Disconnect the latch plate from the
buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt several times
to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out. If the belt still can’t be tight-
ened, or if pulling and pushing on the restraint loosens
the belt, disconnect the latch plate from the buckle, turn
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the buckle around, and insert the latch plate into the
buckle again. If you still can’t make the child restraint
secure, try a different seating position.
To attach a child restraint tether strap:
For rearward facing infant seats secured in the center seat
position with the vehicle seat belts, the rear center seat
position has an armrest tether that secures the arm rest in
the upward position. To access the center seat arm rest
tether first lower the arm rest. The tether is located
behind the armrest and hooked onto the plastic seat
backing.
Center Seat Position Arm Rest Tether
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Pull down on the tether to unhook it from the plastic seat
backing, then raise the armrest and attach the tether hook
to the strap located on the front of the arm rest.
For center seating position route the tether strap over the
seatback and headrest then attach the hook to the tether
anchor located on the back of the seat. For the outboard
seating positions, route the tether under the head restraints,and attach the hook to the top tether anchor located on the
back of the seat. To access the top tether strap anchorages
behind the rear seat, pull the carpeted floor panel away
from the seat back, this will expose the top tether strap
anchorages.
Center Seat Position Arm Rest Tether Attached
Pulling Down The Carpet Floor Panel
To Access Top Tether Strap
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