WARNING: Depending on whereyou secure a child restraint, anddepending on the child restraint design,you may block access to certain seatbeltbuckle assemblies and LATCH loweranchors, rendering those featurespotentially unusable. To avoid risk ofinjury, make sure occupants only useseating positions where they are able tobe properly restrained.
The Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH) system has three vehicleanchor points:
•Two lower anchors where the vehicleseat backrest and seat cushion meet,called the seat bight.
•One top tether anchor behind thatseating position.
LATCH compatible child restraints havetwo rigid or webbing mountedattachments. These attachments connectto the two lower anchors at the LATCHequipped seating positions in your vehicle.This type of attachment methodeliminates the need to use seatbelts toattach the child restraint.
However, you can still use the seatbelt toattach the child restraint if the loweranchors are not used. For forward-facingchild restraints, you must also attach thetop tether strap to the proper top tetheranchor if a top tether strap has beenprovided with your child restraint.
Follow the instructions later in this chapteron attaching child restraints with tetherstraps.
INSTALLING A CHILD RESTRAINTIN A CENTER SEAT
WARNING: The standardizedspacing for LATCH lower anchors is 11 in(280 mm) center to center. Do not useLATCH lower anchors for the centerseating position unless the child restraintmanufacturer's instructions permit andspecify using anchors spaced at least asfar apart as those in this vehicle.
The lower anchors at the center of thesecond row rear seat are spaced 20 in(51 cm) apart. You cannot install a childrestraint with rigid LATCH attachments atthe center seating position. You can onlyuse LATCH compatible child restraints withattachments on belt webbing at thisseating position provided that the childrestraint manufacturer's instructionspermit use with the anchor spacing stated.Do not attach a child restraint to any loweranchor if an adjacent child restraint isattached to that anchor.
Each time you use the child restraint, checkthat the seat is properly attached to thelower anchors and tether anchor, ifapplicable. Tug the child restraint from sideto side and forward and back where it issecured to your vehicle. The seat shouldmove less than 1 in (2.5 cm).
If you did not properly anchor the childrestraint, the risk of a child being injured ina crash greatly increases.
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COMBINING THE SEATBELT ANDLOWER ANCHORS FORATTACHING CHILD RESTRAINTS
When used in combination, you may attacheither the seatbelt or the LATCH loweranchors first, provided a proper installationis achieved. Attach the tether strapafterward, if it is included with the childrestraint.
USING TETHER STRAPS
Many forward-facing child restraintsinclude a tether strap which extends fromthe back of the child restraint and hooksto an anchoring point called the top tetheranchor. Tether straps are available as anaccessory for many older child restraints.
Contact the manufacturer of your childrestraint for information about ordering atether strap, or to obtain a longer tetherstrap if the tether strap on your childrestraint does not reach the appropriatetop tether anchor in the vehicle.
Attach the tether strap only to theappropriate tether anchor. The tether strapmay not work properly if attachedsomewhere other than the correct tetheranchor.
If you install a child restraint with rigidLATCH attachments, do not tighten thetether strap enough to lift the childrestraint off the vehicle seat cushion whenthe child is seated in it. Keep the tetherstrap just snug without lifting the front ofthe child restraint. Keeping the childrestraint just touching the vehicle seatgives the best protection in a severe crash.
Once you have installed the child restraintusing either the seatbelt, the lower anchorsof the LATCH system, or both, you canattach the top tether strap.
1.Route the child restraint tether strapover the back of the seat. For theoutermost seating positions, route thetether strap under the head restraintand between the head restraint posts.For the center seating position, routethe tether strap over the top of thehead restraint with the head restraintfully lowered. If needed, you can alsoremove the head restraints.
2.Locate the correct anchor on the backpanel of the rear seat for the selectedseating position. The anchors arelabeled with the tether strap symbol.
3.Clip the tether strap to the anchor asshown.
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4.Tighten the child restraint tether strapaccording to the manufacturer'sinstructions. If your child restraintsystem has a tether strap, and the childrestraint manufacturer recommendsits use, we also recommend its use.
BOOSTER SEATS
Use a belt-positioning booster seat forchildren who have outgrown or no longerproperly fit in a child restraint and meetthe following criteria.
•Generally children who are less than57 in (1.45 m) tall.
•Are greater than age four (4) and lessthan age twelve (12).
•Are between 40 lb (18 kg) and 80 lb(36 kg) and upward to 100 lb (45 kg).
Many state and provincial laws require thatchildren use approved booster seats untilthey reach age eight, a height of 57 in(1.45 m) tall, or 80 lb (36 kg).
Booster seats should be used until you cananswer yes to all of these questions whenseated without a booster seat:
•Can the child sit all the way backagainst their vehicle seat backrest withknees bent comfortably at the edge ofthe seat cushion?
•Can the child sit without slouching?
•Does the lap belt rest low across thehips?
•Is the shoulder belt centered on theshoulder and chest?
•Can the child stay seated like this forthe whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunctionwith your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Types of Booster Seats
•Backless booster seats
If your backless booster seat has aremovable shield, remove the shield.
If a vehicle seating position has a low seatbackrest or no head restraint, a backlessbooster seat may place your child's head,as measured at the tops of the ears, abovethe top of the seat. In this case, move thebackless booster to another seatingposition with a higher seat backrest orhead restraint and lap and shoulder belts,or consider using a high-back booster seat.
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•High-back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannotfind a seating position that adequatelysupports your child's head, a high-backbooster seat would be a better choice.
Children and booster seats vary in size andshape. Choose a booster that keeps thelap belt low and snug across the hips,never up across the stomach, and lets youadjust the shoulder belt to cross the chestand rest snugly near the center of theshoulder.
The following drawings compare the idealfit to a shoulder belt uncomfortably closeto the neck and a shoulder belt that couldslip off the shoulder. The drawings alsoshow how the lap belt should be low andsnug across the child's hips.
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If the booster seat slides on the vehicleseat upon which it is being used, placing arubberized mesh sold as shelf or carpetliner under the booster seat may improvethis condition. Do not use any item thickerthan this under the booster seat. Checkwith the booster seat manufacturer'sinstructions.
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS
WARNING: You cannot open therear doors from inside if you have put thechild safety locks on.
The control is on the driver door. It enablesboth the child safety locks and the rearwindow locks.
Press the control to switch the child safetylocks and the rear window lock on. Pressthe control again to switch them off. A lighton the control illuminates when you switchthem on.
The child lock and rear window locksettings remain active when you switchyour vehicle off.
Note:To make sure the child safety lock ison, pull the inside door handle twice to verifythe door does not open.
Note:To open the rear doors from insidethe vehicle when the child lock is engaged,roll down the rear window and use theoutside door handle. Or have someoneoutside the vehicle open the door.
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SEATBELT PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: Always drive and ridewith your seatback upright and the lapbelt snug and low across the hips.
WARNING: Children must alwaysbe properly restrained.
WARNING: Do not allow apassenger to hold a child on their lapwhen your vehicle is moving. Failure tofollow this instruction could result inpersonal injury or death in the event of asudden stop or crash.
WARNING: All occupants of yourvehicle, including the driver, shouldalways properly wear their seatbelts,even when an airbag supplementalrestraint system is provided. Failure toproperly wear your seatbelt couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: It is extremelydangerous to ride in a cargo area, insideor outside of a vehicle. In a crash, peopleriding in these areas are more likely to beseriously injured or killed. Do not allowpeople to ride in any area of your vehiclethat is not equipped with seats andseatbelts. Make sure everyone in yourvehicle is in a seat and properly using aseatbelt. Failure to follow this warningcould result in serious personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing aseatbelt.
WARNING: Each seating positionin your vehicle has a specific seatbeltassembly made up of one buckle andone tongue designed to be used as a pair.Use the shoulder belt on the outsideshoulder only. Never wear the shoulderbelt under the arm. Never use a singleseatbelt for more than one person.
WARNING: Even with advancedrestraints systems, properly restrainchildren 12 and under in a rear seatingposition. Failure to follow this couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: Seatbelts and seatsmay be hot in a vehicle that is in thesunshine. The hot seatbelts or seats mayburn a small child. Check seat covers andbuckles before you place a childanywhere near them.
WARNING: If your vehicle isinvolved in a crash, have the seatbeltsand associated components inspectedas soon as possible. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
All seating positions in this vehicle havelap and shoulder seatbelts. All occupantsof the vehicle should properly wear theirseatbelts, even when an airbagsupplemental restraint system is provided.
The seatbelt system consists of:
•Lap and shoulder seatbelts.
•A shoulder seatbelt with automaticlocking mode, except driver seatbelt.
•Height adjusters at the front outermostseating positions.
•Seatbelt pretensioners at the frontoutermost seating positions.
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SENSITIVE LOCKING MODE
WHAT IS SENSITIVE LOCKINGMODE
Sensitive locking mode is a seatbeltretractor feature that allows shoulder beltlength adjustment according to yourmovements and locking in response tovehicle movement.
HOW DOES SENSITIVE LOCKINGMODE WORK
If the driver suddenly brakes, turns a cornersharply, or the vehicle receives an impactof about 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, theseatbelts lock to help reduce forwardmovement of the driver and passengers.
In addition, the seatbelt retractor locks ifyou pull the seatbelt webbing out tooquickly. If the retractor locks, slowly lowerthe height adjuster to allow the seatbeltto retract.
If the retractor does not unlock, pull theseatbelt out slowly then feed a smalllength of webbing back toward the stowedposition.
AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE
WHAT IS AUTOMATIC LOCKINGMODE
This is a safety feature built into theseatbelt retractors that keeps theseatbelts pre-locked.
WHEN TO USE AUTOMATICLOCKING MODE
Use this mode any time you install a childrestraint in a front outermost passengerseating position or any rear seatingposition. Properly restrain children 12 yearsold and under in a rear seat wheneverpossible.
Note:Automatic locking mode is notavailable on the driver seatbelt.
ENGAGING AUTOMATIC LOCKINGMODE
1.Fasten the combination lap andshoulder belt.
2.Grasp the shoulder portion and pulldownward until you pull the entire beltout.
3.Allow the belt to retract. As the beltretracts, you will hear a clicking sound.This indicates the seatbelt is now in theautomatic locking mode.
DISENGAGING AUTOMATICLOCKING MODE
Unbuckle the combination lap andshoulder belt and allow it to retractcompletely to disengage the automaticlocking mode and activate the vehiclesensitive locking mode.
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SWITCHING THE SEATBELTREMINDER ON AND OFF
WARNING: While the systemallows you to deactivate it, this systemis designed to improve your chances ofbeing safely belted and surviving anaccident. We recommend you leave thesystem activated for yourself and otherswho may use the vehicle.
Note:The driver and front passengerwarnings independently switch off. Whenyou perform this procedure for one seatingposition, do not buckle the other position asthis cancels the process.
Note:If you are using MyKey, you cannotdisable the seatbelt reminder. If the seatbeltreminder has been previously disabled, it isre-enabled during the use of MyKey. SeeMyKey™ (page 76).
Read Steps 1-4 before proceeding with theprogramming procedure.
Make sure that:
•The parking brake is set.
•The transmission is in park (P).
•The power is off.
•You close all vehicle doors.
•The driver and front passengerseatbelts are unfastened.
1.Switch the power on. Do not start yourvehicle.
2.Wait about one minute until theseatbelt warning light switches off.After Step 2, wait an additional fiveseconds before proceeding with Step3. Once you start Step 3, complete theprocedure within 30 seconds.
3.For the seating position you areswitching off, buckle then unbuckle theseatbelt three times at a moderatespeed, ending in the unbuckled state.After Step 3, the seatbelt warning lightswitches on.
4.When the seatbelt warning light is on,buckle then unbuckle the seatbelt.After Step 4, the seatbelt warning lightflashes for confirmation.
This switches the feature off for thatseating position if it is currently on.
This switches the feature on for thatseating position if it is currently off.
CHECKING THE SEATBELTS
Check the seatbelts and child restraintsperiodically to make sure they workproperly and are not damaged. Make surethere are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace ifnecessary.
Check all of the following seatbeltassemblies after a crash.
•Retractors.
•Buckles.
•Front seatbelt buckle assemblies.
•Shoulder belt height adjusters.
•Shoulder belt guide on seat backrest.
•Child restraint LATCH and tetheranchors.
•Attaching hardware.
Read the child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions for additional inspection andmaintenance information specific to thechild restraint.
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