Black plate (47,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Seats and Restraints 3-47
Some child restraints that have a
top tether 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.Lower Anchor and Top Tether
Anchor Locations
Regular Cab—Two-Passenger
Front Seat
Regular Cab —Three-Passenger
Front Seat
i(Top Tether Anchor): Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
Do not install a child restraint in the
center front seat position. See
Securing Child Restraints (Center
Front Seat Position) on page 3‑56
or Securing Child Restraints (Right
Front Seat Position) on page 3‑57
or Securing Child Restraints (Rear
Seat Position) on page 3‑54 for
more information.
Black plate (48,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
3-48 Seats and Restraints
Crew and Extended Cab Rear Seat
i(Top Tether Anchor):Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
j(Lower Anchor): Seating
positions with two lower anchors.
For crew and extended cab models,
the rear outboard seating positions
have exposed metal lower anchors
located in the crease between the
seatback and the seat cushion.
For regular cab models, there is an
anchor symbol on the covers to
assist you in locating the top tether
anchors.
Regular Cab Do not install a child restraint in the
center seat position. See
Securing
Child Restraints (Center Front Seat
Position) on page 3‑56 orSecuring
Child Restraints (Right Front Seat
Position) on page 3‑57 orSecuring
Child Restraints (Rear Seat
Position) on page 3‑54 for more
information.
For regular cab models, the top
tether anchors are located under
covers on the back panel behind the
passenger seat. Remove the trim
plug to access the anchor. 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.
Black plate (49,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Seats and Restraints 3-49
Crew Cab Shown, Extended CabSimilar
For crew and extended cab models,
the top tether anchors are the loops
located near the top of the seatback
for each rear seating position.
These loops will be used to route
the top tether through, as well as, to
secure the top tether in the vehicle.
Be sure to use an anchor (loop)
located on the same side of the
vehicle as the seating position
where the child restraint will be
placed. Be sure to read the instructions
following to properly install a child
restraint using these loops.
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.
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. See
Where to Put the
Restraint on page 3‑44 for
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 safety
belts to secure the restraint,
following the instructions that
came with the child restraint and
the instructions in this manual.
Black plate (50,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
3-50 Seats and Restraints
{WARNING
Do not attach more than one child
restraint to a single anchor,
except for the center top tether
anchors in the crew and extended
cabs. 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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
children cannot reach them. Pull
the shoulder belt all the way out
of the retractor to set the lock,
if the vehicle has one, after the
child restraint has been installed.
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.
If you need to secure more than one
child restraint in the rear seat, see
Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑44. This system is designed to make
installation 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.
Regular Cab Models
1. If the child restraint manufacturer
recommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor, if your vehicle has one.
Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
1.1. Pull the passenger seatback forward by pulling
the recliner handle upward
to access the top tether
anchor. See Reclining
Seatbacks on page 3‑5 for
additional information.
1.2. Find the top tether anchor.
Black plate (51,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Seats and Restraints 3-51
1.3. Remove the cover toexpose the anchor.
1.4. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according to
your child restraint
instructions and the
following instructions:
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. 2. See
Securing Child Restraints
(Center Front Seat Position) on
page 3‑56 orSecuring Child
Restraints (Right Front Seat
Position) on page 3‑57 or
Securing Child Restraints (Rear
Seat Position) on page 3‑54 for
instructions on installing the
child restraint using the safety
belts.
3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
LATCH path and attempt to
move it side-to-side and
back-and-forth. There should be
no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of
movement for proper installation.
Black plate (52,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
3-52 Seats and Restraints
Crew and Extended Cab Models
1. Attach and tighten the lowerattachments 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. Put the child restraint on the seat.
1.3. 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 (loop), if your vehicle has
one. Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
Example —Rear Driver Side
Position
Example —Rear Driver Side
Position
2.1. When using a child restraint with a top tether in the rear
driver side position:
A. Raise the headrest or head restraint.
Black plate (53,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Seats and Restraints 3-53
B. Route the toptether (B) between
the headrest or head
restraint posts,
through the loop (A),
behind the inboard
headrest or head
restraint post, and
under the center
shoulder belt (C).
C. Attach the top tether (B) to the top
tether
anchor (loop) (D) at
the center rear
seating position.
2.2. When using a child restraint with a top tether in the rear
center position:
A. Route the top tether (B) through
the center loop (D),
and behind the
inboard passenger
side headrest or
head restraint post. B. Attach the top
tether (B) to the top
tether anchor (loop)
at the rear
passenger side
seating position.
2.3. When using a child restraint with a top tether in the rear
passenger position:
A. Raise the headrest or head restraint.
B. Route the top tether (B) between
the headrest or head
restraint posts,
through the loop on
the passenger side
and behind the
inboard headrest or
head restraint post. C. Attach the top
tether (B) to the top
tether
anchor (loop) (D) at
the center rear
seating position.
2.4. Tighten the top tether when and as the child restraint
manufacturer's
instructions say.
When the top tether is
tightened, the anchor (loop)
may bend. This is normal
and will not damage the
vehicle.
3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
LATCH path and attempt to
move it side-to-side and
back-and-forth. There should be
no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of
movement for proper installation.
Black plate (54,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
3-54 Seats and Restraints
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the LATCH
system in the vehicle. A damaged
LATCH system may not properly
secure the child restraint,
resulting in serious injury or even
death in a crash. To help make
sure the LATCH system is
working properly after a crash,
see your dealer to have the
system inspected and any
necessary replacements made as
soon as possible.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system
and it was being used during a
crash, new LATCH system parts
may be needed.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the LATCH
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Securing Child Restraints
(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
System) on page 3‑45 for how and
where to install the child restraint
using LATCH. If a child restraint is
secured in the vehicle using a
safety belt and it uses a top tether,
see Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑45 for top tether anchor
locations.
Do not secure a child seat 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 3‑44.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.