Child Restraints
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s seat belts.
The manufacturer instructions that come with the booster seat state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the fit test below:
“Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt 0 65.
If a comfort guide is not available, or if the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.
wear seat belts?
A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies belt force to the child's pelvic bones in a crash. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Also see “Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt 0 65.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in a rear seating position.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use seat belts properly.
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by
appropriate child restraints. Neither the vehicle's seat belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them.
Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people,
or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Child restraints are devices used to restrain, seat, or position children in the vehicle and are sometimes called child seats or car seats.
There are three basic types of child restraints:
The proper child restraint for your child depends on their size, weight, and age, and also on whether the child restraint is compatible with the vehicle in which it will be used.
For each type of child restraint, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the child restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The instruction manual that is provided with the child restraint states the weight and height limitations for that particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of child restraints available for children with special needs.
Rear-Facing Infant Restraint
A rear-facing child restraint provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.
Forward-Facing Child Restraint
A forward-facing child restraint provides restraint for the child's body with the harness.
Booster Seats
A belt-positioning booster seat is used for children who have outgrown their forward-facing child restraint. Boosters are designed to improve the fit of the vehicle's seat belt system until the child is large enough for the vehicle seat belts to fit properly without a booster seat. See the seat belt fit test in Older Children 0 82.
To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraints must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a
lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 89 for more information. Children can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.
When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the following:
The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in the vehicle — even when no child is in it.
In some areas Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) are available to inspect and demonstrate how to correctly use and install child restraints. In the U.S., refer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to locate the nearest child safety seat inspection station. For CPST
availability in Canada, check with Transport Canada or the Provincial Ministry of Transportation office.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front. This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great if the airbag deploys.
According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in an appropriate child restraint secured in a rear seating position.
Whenever possible, children aged 12 and under should be secured in a rear seating position.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint, a
rear-facing child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle, even if the airbag is off.
When securing a child restraint with the seat belts in a rear seat position, study the instructions that came with the child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.
Child restraints and booster seats vary considerably in size, and some may fit in certain seating positions better than others.
Depending on where you place the child restraint and the size of the child restraint, you may not be able to access adjacent seat belts or LATCH anchors for additional passengers or child restraints.
Adjacent seating positions should not be used if the child restraint prevents access to or interferes with the routing of the seat belt.
Wherever a child restraint is installed, be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint and secure the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in the vehicle — even when no child is in it.
The LATCH system secures a child restraint during driving or in a crash. LATCH attachments on the child restraint are used to attach the child restraint to the anchors in the vehicle. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier.
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. LATCH-compatible rear-facing and forward-facing child seats can be properly installed using either the LATCH anchors or the vehicle’s seat belts. Do not use both the seat belts and the LATCH anchorage system to secure a
rear-facing or forward-facing child seat.
Booster seats use the vehicle’s seat belts to secure the child and the booster seat. If the manufacturer recommends that the booster seat be secured with the LATCH system, this can be done as long as the booster seat can be positioned properly and there is no interference with the proper positioning of the lap-shoulder belt on the child.
Make sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.
When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the seat belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether.
For a forward-facing 5-pt harness child restraint where the combined weight of the child and restraint are up to 29.5 kg (65 lb), use either the lower LATCH anchorages with the top tether anchorage, or the seat belt with the top tether anchorage. Where the combined weight of the child and restraint are greater than
|
Restraint Type |
Combined Weight of the Child + Child Restraint |
Use Only Approved Attachment Methods Shown with an X |
|||
|
LATCH – Lower Anchors Only |
Seat Belt Only |
LATCH – Lower Anchors and Top Tether Anchor |
Seat Belt and Top Tether Anchor |
||
|
Rear-Facing Child Restraint |
Up to 29.5 kg (65 lb) |
X |
X |
||
|
Rear-Facing Child Restraint |
Greater than 29.5 kg (65 lb) |
X |
|||
|
Forward-Facing Child Restraint |
Up to 29.5 kg (65 lb) |
X |
X |
||
|
Forward-Facing Child Restraint |
Greater than 29.5 kg (65 lb) |
X |
See Securing Child Restraints (In the Center Front Seat) 0 105 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 102 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 106.
Child restraints built after March 2014 will be labeled with the specific child weight up to which the LATCH system can be used to install the restraint.
The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in the vehicle.
Not all vehicle seating positions have lower anchors. In this case, the seat belt must be used (with top
tether where available) to secure the child restraint. See Securing Child Restraints (In the Center Front Seat) 0 105 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 102 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 106.
Lower anchors (1) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (2).
A top tether (3, 4) is used to secure the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment hook (2) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.
The child restraint may have a single tether (3) or a dual tether (4). Either will have a single attachment hook (2) to secure the top tether to the anchor.
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.
Regular Cab — Bucket Seat Only
Regular Cab — Three-Passenger Front Seat
I : Seating positions with top tether anchors.
Do not install a child restraint in the center front seating position. See Securing Child Restraints (In the Center Front Seat) 0 105 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 102 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 106 for more information.
Double and Crew Cab Rear Seat
I : Seating positions with top tether anchors.
H : Seating positions with two lower anchors.
To assist in locating the lower anchors on double and crew cab models, each seating position with
lower anchors has two labels near the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.
For regular cab models, there are top tether anchor symbols to assist you in locating the top tether anchors.
Do not install a child restraint in the center seating position. See Securing Child Restraints (In the Center Front Seat) 0 105 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 102 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 106 for more information.
Regular Cab
For regular cab models, the top tether anchors are on the back panel behind the passenger seat(s) or center seat. Be sure to use an anchor directly behind the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
Driver Side Anchor and Loop (Double and Crew Cab)
Center Anchor and Loop (Double and Crew Cab)
Passenger Side Loop (Double and Crew Cab)
For double and crew cab models, the top tether is routed through loops (2) to the top tether anchors (1). Be sure to use the correct anchor for the seating
position where the child restraint will be placed.
Be sure to read the following instructions to properly install a child restraint using these loops and anchors.
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 0 88 for additional information.
If you need to secure more than one child restraint in the rear seat, see Where to Put the Restraint 0 88.
Regular Cab Models
belts and a top tether. See Securing Child Restraints (In the Center Front Seat) 0 105 or Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 102 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 106.
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:
If the position you are using has an adjustable head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the head restraint.
If the position you are using has an adjustable head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the head restraint
and route the tether under the head restraint and in between the head restraint posts.
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 102 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 106.
Double and Crew Cab Models
LATCH anchor weight limits described at the beginning of this section, and the following steps:
Rear Driver Side Position
Rear Driver Side Position
tether (3) through
the loop (2).
tether (3) to the driver side of the center top tether metal anchor (1).
child restraint top tether hook is completely closed and secured to the top tether anchor.
Rear Passenger Side Position
Rear Passenger Side Position
passenger side head restraint and center headrest. See “Head Restraint or Headrest Removal and Reinstallation” later in this section.
tether (3) through
the loop (2).
tether (3) to the passenger side of the center top tether metal anchor (1).
child restraint top tether hook is completely closed and secured to the top tether anchor.
Rear Center Position
Rear Center Position
tether (1) through the center loop (2).
tether (1) to the driver side top tether metal anchor (3).
child restraint top tether hook is completely closed and secured to the top tether anchor.
When the top tether is properly tightened, the loop may bend. This is normal and will not damage the vehicle.
If child restraints are installed in both outboard positions, both top tethers can be attached to the center anchor. Top tethers can be attached for child restraints in all three rear seating positions at the same time, following the routing instructions above.
The second row outboard head restraints or center headrest can be removed if they interfere with the proper installation of the child restraint.
To remove the second row head restraints or center headrest:
To reinstall the head restraint or headrest:
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.
When securing a child restraint with the seat belts in a rear seat 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) 0 89 for how and where to install the child restraint using LATCH. If a child restraint is secured in the vehicle using a seat belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 89 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 tether 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 or vehicle seat position does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the seat belt to secure the child restraint. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint.
If more than one child restraint needs to be installed in the rear seat, be sure to read Where to Put the Restraint 0 88.
Position the release button on the buckle, away from the child restraint, so that the seat belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked. If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 5 and 6.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle seat belt and let it return to the stowed position. If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.
Reinstall the head restraint or headrest before the seating position is used. See “Head Restraint or Headrest Removal and
Reinstallation” under Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 89 for additional information on installing the headrest properly.
Position the release button on the buckle, away from the child restraint, so that the seat belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked. If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 4 and 5.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle seat belt and let it return to the stowed position. If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.
For outboard rear seating positions, if the child restraint cannot be installed properly with the head restraint in place, the head restraint
may be removed. See your dealer for assistance with removal, and store the removed head restraint in a secure place. When the child restraint is removed, reinstall the head restraint before the seating position is used. For reinstallation instructions, see “Head Restraint or Headrest Removal and Reinstallation” under Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 89.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position.
This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint 0 88.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. See Passenger Sensing System 0 75 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator 0 133 for more information, including important safety information.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front. This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint, a
rear-facing child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle, even if the airbag is off.
If the child restraint uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 0 89 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 tether must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached.
When using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position, follow the instructions that came with the child restraint and the following instructions:
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag, the OFF indicator on the passenger airbag status indicator should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator 0 133.
Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.
Position the release button on the buckle, away from the child restraint, so that the seat belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked. If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 5 and 6.
If the airbag is off, the OFF indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator will come on and stay on when the vehicle is started.
If a child restraint has been installed and the ON indicator is lit, see “If the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child Restraint” under Passenger Sensing System 0 75.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle seat belt and let it return to the stowed position.
Storage Compartments 110
Glove Box 110
Cupholders 110
Underseat Storage 111
Rear Storage 111
Center Console Storage 111
Floor Console Storage 112
Cargo Tie-Downs 113
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