2017 Acura MDX Owner's Guide

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AFETY
Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat
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. Make sure that the lower anchors
are not obstructed by the seat belt or any other
object.
Marks
Lower anchors Rigid type
Flexible type
Marks
With second-row bench seat
With second-row captain seats

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Outer seats: Raise the head r
estraint to its

highest position, then route
the tether strap


between the head restraint legs, and secur

e the


tether strap hook onto the anchor

.
Center seat:

Lower the center head restraint to


its lowest position, then route

the tether strap


over the top of the

head restraint and secure the


tether strap hook onto the anchor

.
3.
Make sure

the strap is not twisted. Tighten
the tether strap as instructed by the child seat
manufacturer.
4.
Make sure

the child seat is firmly secured by
rocking it forward and back and side to side;
little movement should be felt.
5.
Make sure an

y unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor is
activated, and the belt is fully retracted and
locked.
Anchor
Tether Strap Hook
With second-row captain seats
With second-row bench seat
Anchor
Tether strap hook

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Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt
1.
Place the child seat on the
vehicle seat.
2.
Route the seat

belt through the child
seat according to the seat manufacturer’s
instructions, and insert the latch plate into the
buckle. Insert 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. If 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. When doing this, place your
weight on the child seat and push it into the
vehicle seat.
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 an

y unused seat belt that a child
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor is
activated, and the belt is fully retracted and
locked.
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle and allow the seat belt to
wind up all the way.

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Adding Security with a Tether
A tether anchorage point is provided behind each second- and third-row seating
position. A child seat that is installed with a seat belt and comes with a tether
can use the tether for additional security.
Second-row seats
1.
Outer seats: Raise the head r

estraint to its
highest position, then route the tether strap
through the head restraint legs.
1.
Center seat:

Lower the head restraint to its
lowest position, then route the tether strap over
the top of the head restraint.
2.
Make sure

the strap is not twisted, and secure
the tether strap hook onto the anchor.
3.
Tighten the tether strap as instructed b

y the
child seat manufacturer.
Second row seatTether anchorage points
Second row seat
Anchor Tether strap hook
Tether Anchorage Points
With second-row bench seat
With second-row captain seats
Anchor
Tether Strap Hook
With second-row bench seat
With second-row captain seats

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Third-row seats
1.
Pull up the head restraint and push r

earward
until it latches, then route the tether strap
through the head restraint legs.
2.
Open the anchor cov

er.
3.
Make sure

the strap is not twisted, and secure
the tether strap hook onto the anchor.
4.
Tighten the tether strap as instructed b

y the
child seat manufacturer.
Third row seatTether anchorage points
Third row seat
Tether strap hook Anchor

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Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in the 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.
WARNING
Protecting Larger Children
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 ensure the following:
•
The child’s knees bend comfortably

over the edge
of the seat.
•
The shoulder belt crosses between the child’

s
neck and arm.
•
The lap part of the seat belt is as low as possible,
touching the

child’s thighs.
•
The child can stay seated for the

whole trip.
If a lap/shoulder belt cannot be used properly, position the child in a booster seat
in a rear seating position. For the child’s safety, check that the child meets the
booster seat manufacturer’s recommendations.
Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces/territories require children to use a
booster seat until they reach a given age or weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the state or province/territory where you intend to
drive.

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Safety Label Locations
Safety labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that
can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels carefully.
Sun viso
r
U.S. mode ls
Canadian models
Radiator cap U.
S. models
U.S. models only
Dashboard
Canadian modelsDoorjamb
s
U.S. models only
Sun viso
r

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Reporting Safety Defects
In the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying American Honda Motor
Co., Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-
327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. You
can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.
safercar.gov.
In Canada
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immediately inform Honda Canada, Inc., and you
may also inform Transport Canada.
If Transport Canada receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and
if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may lead to a recall
and remedy campaign. However, Transport Canada cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer, or Honda Canada, Inc.
To contact Transport Canada’s Defect Investigations and Recalls Division, you may
call 1-800-333-0510. For more information on reporting safety defects or about
motor vehicle safety, go to http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety.