SAFETY229
Recommendations For Attaching Child Restraints
Lower Anchors And Tethers For CHildren
(LATCH) Restraint System
LATCH Label
Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint
anchorage system called LATCH, which stands for
Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. The
LATCH system has three vehicle anchor points for
installing LATCH-equipped child seats. There are
two lower anchorages located at the back of the
seat cushion where it meets the seatback and one
top tether anchorage located behind the seating
position. These anchorages are used to install
LATCH-equipped child seats without using the
vehicle’s seat belts. Some seating positions may
have a top tether anchorage but no lower
anchorages. In these seating positions, the seat
belt must be used with the top tether anchorage to
install the child restraint. Please see the following
table for more information.
Restraint Type
Combined Weight of
the Child + Child Restraint Use Any Attachment Method Shown With An “X” Below
LATCH – Lower Anchors Only Seat Belt Only LATCH – Lower Anchors
+ Top Tether Anchor Seat Belt + Top Tether
Anchor
Rear-Facing Child Restraint Up to 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) X
X
Rear-Facing Child Restraint More than 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) X
Forward-Facing Child Restraint Up to 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) X
X
Forward-Facing Child Restraint More than 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) X
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SAFETY231
NOTE:If the folding, non-adjustable head restraint interferes with the installation of the child restraint, the head restraint may be folded and the child seat installed in
front of it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH
What is the weight limit (child’s weight + weight of
the child restraint) for using the LATCH anchorage
system to attach the child restraint? 65 lbs (29.5 kg)Use the LATCH anchorage system until the combined weight of the child
and the child restraint is 65 lbs (29.5 kg). Use the seat belt and tether
anchor instead of the LATCH system once the combined weight is more
than 65 lbs (29.5 kg).
Can the LATCH anchorages and the seat belt be
used together to attach a rear-facing or
forward-facing child restraint? NoDo not use the seat belt when you use the LATCH anchorage system to
attach a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint.
Booster seats may be attached to the LATCH anchorages if allowed by the
booster seat manufacturer. See your booster seat owner’s manual for
more information.
Can two child restraints be attached using a
common lower LATCH anchorage? NoNever “share” a LATCH anchorage with two or more child restraints. If the
center position does not have dedicated LATCH lower anchorages, use
the seat belt to install a child seat in the center position next to a child
seat using the LATCH anchorages in an outboard position.
Can the rear-facing child restraint touch the back of
the front passenger seat? YesThe child seat may touch the back of the front passenger seat if the child
restraint manufacturer also allows contact. See your child restraint
owner’s manual for more information.
Can the rear head restraints be removed? YesThe 2nd row head restraints on bench and the center head restraint in
the 8 passenger vehicle can be removed if they interfere with the
installation of the child restraint. 2nd row Stow 'n Go head restraints are
not removable. The 3rd row center head restraint is removable in all
vehicles, but the 3rd row outboard head restraints are not removable
Úpage 43.
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234SAFETY
Center Seat LATCH
This vehicle has 4 lower LATCH anchorages in the
third row, rear seat. Anchorages A and B are used
for the right outboard position behind the front
passenger (1). Anchorages C and D are used for
the center seating position (2). The left outboard
position (3) does not have lower anchorages. Do
not
install a child restraint using anchorages B and
C. This is not a LATCH position in your vehicle.
Center Seat LATCH Positions
If a child restraint installed in the center position
blocks the seat belt webbing or buckle for the
outboard position, do not use that outboard
position. If a child seat in the center position blocks
the outboard LATCH anchors or seat belt, do not
install a child seat in that outboard position. Always follow the directions of the child restraint
manufacturer when installing your child restraint.
Not all child restraint systems will be installed as
described here.
To Install A LATCH-Compatible Child
Restraint
If the selected seating position has a Switchable
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) seat belt, stow
the seat belt, following the instructions below. See
Úpage 235 to check what type of seat belt each
seating position has.
1. Loosen the adjusters on the lower straps and on the tether strap of the child seat so that
you can more easily attach the hooks or
connectors to the vehicle anchorages.
2. Place the child seat between the lower
anchorages for that seating position. If the
second row seat can be reclined, you may
recline the seat and/or raise the head restraint
(if adjustable) to get a better fit. If the rear seat
can be moved forward and rearward in the
vehicle, you may wish to move it to its
rear-most position to make room for the child
seat. You may also move the front seat forward
to allow more room for the child seat.
3. Attach the lower hooks or connectors of the child restraint to the lower anchorages in the
selected seating position.
4. If the child restraint has a tether strap, connect it to the top tether anchorage. See
Úpage 239 for directions to attach a tether
anchor.
5. Tighten all of the straps as you push the child restraint rearward and downward into the
seat. Remove slack in the straps according to
the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling back and forth on the child seat at
the belt path. It should not move more than
1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.
WARNING!
Use anchorages C and D to install a
LATCH-compatible child restraint in the center
seating position (2). Do not install a
LATCH-compatible child restraint using
anchorages B and C. This is not a
LATCH-compatible position in your vehicle.
Never use the same lower anchorage to
attach more than one child restraint. Please
see
Úpage 234 for typical installation
instructions.
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SAFETY235
How To Stow An Unused Switchable-ALR
(ALR) Seat Belt:
When using the LATCH attaching system to install
a child restraint, stow all ALR seat belts that are not
being used by other occupants or being used to
secure child restraints. An unused belt could injure
a child if they play with it and accidentally lock the
seat belt retractor. Before installing a child
restraint using the LATCH system, buckle the seat
belt behind the child restraint and out of the child’s
reach. If the buckled seat belt interferes with the
child restraint installation, instead of buckling it
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt
through the child restraint belt path and then
buckle it. Do not lock the seat belt. Remind all
children in the vehicle that the seat belts are not
toys and that they should not play with them.
Installing Child Restraints Using The
Vehicle Seat Belt
Child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion
of a lap/shoulder belt. The seat belts in the passenger seating positions
are equipped with a Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) that is 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 retractor can be “switched” into a
locked mode by pulling all of the webbing out of the
retractor and then letting the webbing retract back
into the retractor. If it is locked, the ALR will make
a clicking noise while the webbing is pulled back
into the retractor.
See the “Automatic Locking Mode” description
Úpage 210 for additional information on ALR.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to the
LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of the
restraint. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the child restraint manufac
-
turer’s directions exactly when installing an
infant or child restraint.
Child restraint anchorages are designed to
withstand only those loads imposed by
correctly-fitted child restraints. Under no
circumstances are they to be used for adult
seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other
items or equipment to the vehicle.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly injured
or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint.
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236SAFETY
Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For Installing
Child Restraints In This Vehicle
7 Passenger Bench Seat Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) Locations 7 Passenger Quad Seat Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) Locations (Includes Stow ‘n Go) 8 Passenger Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations
ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor Top Tether Anchorage SymbolALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor Top Tether Anchorage SymbolALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor Top Tether Anchorage Symbol
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weight limit (child’s
weight + weight of the child restraint)
for using the Tether Anchor with the
seat belt to attach a forward facing
child restraint? Weight limit of the Child RestraintAlways use the tether anchor when
using the seat belt to install a forward
facing child restraint, up to the
recommended weight limit of the
child restraint.
Can the rear-facing child restraint
touch the back of the front passenger
seat? YesContact between the front passenger
seat and the child restraint is allowed,
if the child restraint manufacturer
also allows contact.
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SAFETY237
NOTE:If the folding, non-adjustable head restraint interferes with the installation of the child restraint, the head restraint may be folded and the child seat installed in
front of it.Can the rear head restraints be
removed?
YesThe 2nd row head restraints on bench
and the center head restraint in the 8
passenger vehicle can be removed if
they interfere with the installation of
the child restraint. 2nd row Stow 'n Go
head restraints are not removable.
The 3rd row center head restraint is
removable in all vehicles, but the 3rd
row outboard head restraints are not
removable
Úpage 43.
Can the buckle stalk be twisted to
tighten the seat belt against the belt
path of the child restraint? No
Do not twist the buckle stalk in a
seating position with an ALR retractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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238SAFETY
Car Seat With Head Restraint Folded
Installing A Child Restraint With A
Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR):
Child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion
of a lap/shoulder belt.
1. Place the child seat in the center of the seating position. If the second row seat can
be reclined, you may recline the seat and/or
raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to get a
better fit. If the rear seat can be moved
forward and rearward in the vehicle, you may
wish to move it to its rear-most position to
make room for the child seat. You may also
move the front seat forward to allow more
room for the child seat.
2. Pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the
retractor to pass it through the belt path of the
child restraint. Do not twist the belt webbing in
the belt path.
3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”
4. Pull on the webbing to make the lap portion tight against the child seat.
5. To lock the seat belt, pull down on the shoulder part of the belt until you have pulled all the
seat belt webbing out of the retractor. Then,
allow the webbing to retract back into the
retractor. As the webbing retracts, you will hear
a clicking sound. This means the seat belt is
now in the Automatic Locking mode.
6. Try to pull the webbing out of the retractor. If it is locked, you should not be able to pull out any
webbing. If the retractor is not
locked, repeat
step 5.
7. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to tighten the lap portion around the child
restraint while you push the child restraint
rearward and downward into the vehicle seat.
WARNING!
Always make sure the head restraint is in its
upright position when the seat is to be used by
an occupant who is not in a child restraint.
Sitting in a seat with the head restraint in its
lowered position could result in serious injury or
death in a collision.
1 — Folded Headrest
2 — Child Restraint
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly injured
or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint.
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SAFETY239
8. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and the seating position has a top tether
anchorage, connect the tether strap to the
anchorage and tighten the tether strap. See
Úpage 239 for directions to attach a tether
anchor.
9. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling back and forth on the child seat at
the belt path. It should not move more than
1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.
Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check
the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
Seat Belt Park Stitch — If Equipped
The rear outboard seat belts may be equipped with
a park stitch to raise the latch plate for easier
access to occupants. If the park stitch interferes
with the tight installation of a child restraint, slide
the latch plate over the stitching to shorten the lap
portion of the belt and install the car seat following
the steps above. When the car seat is removed
from the vehicle, slide the latch plate above the
park stitch to enable occupants to latch the
seatbelt securely.
Seat Belt Park Stitch Location
If the park stitch interferes with the lock-off
features of the child restraint, do not use the
lock-off feature. Instead, switch the seat belt to the
locking mode, as described in the steps above or
move the car seat to a different seating position.
Seat Belt Park Stitch
Installing Child Restraints Using the Top
Tether Anchorage
WARNING!
Do not attach a tether strap for a rear-facing car
seat to any location in front of the car seat,
including the seat frame or a tether anchorage.
Only attach the tether strap of a rear-facing car
seat to the tether anchorage that is approved for
that seating position, located behind the top of
the vehicle seat. See
Úpage 229 for the
location of approved tether anchorages in your
vehicle.
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