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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
If a child is at least one year old and within the weight range indicated by the child 
seat manufacturer, the child should be properly restrained in a firmly secured 
forward-facing child seat.
■Forward-facing child seat placement
We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with 
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger’s front airbag off. A 
rear seat is the safest place for a child.
■Protecting Smaller Children
1Protecting Smaller Children
Educate yourself about the laws and regulations 
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and 
follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Many experts recommend use of a rear-facing seat 
for a child up to two years old if the child’s height and 
weight are appropriate for a rear-facing seat.
3
WARNING
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the 
front seat can result in serious injury or 
death if the front airbag inflates.
If you must place a forward-facing child 
seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far 
back as possible, and properly restrain the 
child. 
     
        
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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
58Safe Driving
Most child seats are LATCH-compatible (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren). 
Some have a rigid-type connector, while others have a flexible-type connector. Both 
are equally easy to use. Some existing and previously owned child seats can only be 
installed using the seat belt. Whichever type you choose, follow the child seat 
manufacturer’s use and care instructions as well as the instructions in this manual. 
Proper installation is key to maximizing your child’s safety. 
In seating positions and vehicles not equipped with LATCH, a LATCH compatible 
child seat can be installed using the seat belt and a top tether for added security. 
This is because all child seats are required to be designed so that they can be secured 
with a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. In addition, the child seat 
manufacturer may advise that a seat belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat 
once a child reaches a specified weight. Please read the child seat owner’s manual 
for proper installation instructions.■Important consideration when selecting a child seat
Make sure the child seat meets the following three requirements:
•The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.
•The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.
•The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or 
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.■Selecting a Child Seat
1Selecting a Child Seat
Installation of a LATCH-compatible child seat is 
simple.
LATCH-compatible child seats have been developed 
to simplify the installation process and reduce the 
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation. 
     
        
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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Continued
Safe Driving
A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in either of the two outer rear seats. 
A child seat is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible type of 
connectors.
1.Locate the lower anchors under the marks.
2.Place the child seat on the vehicle seat then 
attach the child seat to the lower anchors 
according to the instructions that came 
with the child seat.
uWhen installing the child seat, make sure 
that the lower anchors are not 
obstructed by the seat belt or any other 
object.■Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child SeatMarks
Rigid Type Lower Anchors 
     
        
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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
60Safe Driving
3.Open the tether anchor cover behind the 
seat-back.
4.Raise the head restraint to its highest 
position, then route the tether strap 
between the head restraint legs, and secure 
the tether strap hook onto the anchor.
Make sure the strap is not twisted.
5.Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the 
child seat maker.
6.Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by 
rocking it forward and back and side to 
side; little movement should be felt.
7.Make sure any unused seat belt that a child 
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor 
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted 
and locked.
Flexible Type
1Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
For your child’s safety, when using a child seat 
installed using the LATCH system, make sure that the 
seat is properly secured to the vehicle. A child seat 
that is not properly secured will not adequately 
protect a child in a crash and may cause injury to the 
child or other vehicle occupants.
Tether Strap HookAnchor
Anchor Cover 
     
        
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1.Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.
2.Route the seat belt through the child seat 
according to the seat maker’s instructions, 
and insert the latch plate into the buckle.
uInsert the latch plate fully until it clicks.
3.Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all 
the way out until it stops. This activates the 
lockable retractor.
4.Let the seat belt completely wind up into 
the retractor, then try to pull it out to make 
sure the retractor is locked.
uIf you are able to pull the shoulder belt 
out, the lockable retractor is not 
activated. Pull the seat belt all the way 
out, and repeat steps 3 – 4.
5.Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near 
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack 
from the lap part of the belt.
uWhen doing this, place your weight on 
the child seat and push it into the vehicle 
seat.
■Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
A child seat that is not properly secured will not 
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause 
injury to the child or other vehicle occupants. 
     
        
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62Safe Driving
6.Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by 
rocking it forward and back and side to 
side; little movement should be felt.
7.Make sure any unused seat belt that a child 
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor 
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted 
and locked.
A tether anchorage point is provided behind 
each rear seating position. A child seat that is 
installed with a seat belt and comes with a 
tether can use the tether for additional 
security.
1Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle 
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
■Adding Security with a Tether
Tether Anchorage Points
1Adding Security with a Tether
Since a tether can provide additional security to the 
lap/shoulder seat belt installation, we recommend 
using a tether whenever one is available. 
     
        
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■Using an outer anchor
1.Raise the head restraint to its highest 
position, then route the tether strap 
through the head restraint legs. Make sure 
the strap is not twisted.
2.Open the anchor cover.
3.Secure the tether strap hook onto the 
anchor.
4.Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the 
child seat manufacturer.■Using the center anchor
1.Lower the head restraint to its lowest 
position.
2.Open the anchor cover.
3.Route the tether strap over the head 
restraint. Make sure the strap is not twisted.
4.Secure the tether strap hook onto the 
anchor.
5.Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the 
child seat manufacturer.
Tether Strap Hook AnchorCover
Outer Position
Tether 
Strap 
Hook
Anchor
Cover
Center Position 
     
        
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uuChild SafetyuSafety of Larger Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Larger ChildrenThe following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind 
of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who 
must sit in front.
When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/
shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the 
following questions.
■Checklist
•Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over 
the edge of the seat?
•Does the shoulder belt cross between the 
child’s neck and arm?
•Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as 
possible, touching the child’s thighs?
•Will the child be able to stay seated like this 
for the whole trip?
If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder 
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a 
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.
■Protecting Larger Children■Checking Seat Belt Fit
1Safety of Larger Children
3
WARNING
Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in 
front can result in injury or death if the 
passenger’s front airbag inflates.
If a larger child must ride in front, move the 
vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, 
have the child sit up properly and wear the 
seat belt properly, using a booster seat if 
needed.