2023 Land Rover Defender Seat Belts
SEAT BELT SAFETY
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. Failure to observe warnings and cautions may result in vehicle damage, injury, or DEATH in the event of an accident.
- Always replace a seat belt if it becomes frayed, contaminated, doesn’t work properly, or after the vehicle has been involved in an accident.
- Always avoid contamination of the webbing with polishes, oils, chemicals, and especially battery acid. Cleaning may safely be carried out using mild soap and water.
- Always make sure the seat belts are not damaged, or exposed to sharp edges when using them to restrain items other than occupants.
- Always wear seat belts low across the front of the pelvis, chest and shoulders.
- Always adjust seat belts and positioning sliders as firmly as possible, consistent with comfort.
- Always sit well back in the seat, with the seatback in an upright position.
- Always wear seat belts, for every journey, no matter how short. The airbag Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) adds to the overall effectiveness of the seat belts, but does not replace them.
- Never place anything between the occupant and the seat belt.
- Never use comfort clips, or any devices that create slack in the seat belt system.
- Never modify the seat belt adjusting devices or assembly, in any way that prevents the assembly from being adjusted to remove slack.
- Never wear seat belts with the straps twisted.
- Never place a seat belt around a child being carried on an occupant’s lap. Each belt assembly must only be used by one occupant.
- Never independently wear the lap belt or shoulder belt portion of the seat belt.
- Never attempt to cushion the impact of an accident by placing anything between an occupant and the seat belt.
- Make sure the seat belts are correctly routed and not trapped behind the seats when raising the rear seatbacks.
Always contact a retailer / authorized repairer before attempting to carry out a repair on a vehicle. Only approved replacement parts should be used for any repairs that are carried out.
SEAT BELT OPERATION
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See SEAT BELT SAFETY.
A seat belt slider may be fitted to this vehicle. When the seat belt is not in use, the belt slider allows for optimal positioning of the metal tongue.
Each seat in the vehicle has a dedicated seat belt, designed for an occupant older than 12 years of age or weighing more than 36 kg (80 lb). Occupants with a lower age, or a lower body mass, should use an appropriate child restraint. See CHILD SEAT REFERENCE TABLES.
1. Make sure that the seat, and occupant’s sitting position, are correct.
2. Draw the belt out smoothly across the collar bone at the mid-point between the shoulder and neck, and down to the appropriate buckle.
3. Press the metal tongue into the buckle until a click is heard.
1. Hold the belt.
2. Press the red button on the buckle.
3. Guide the seat belt back to its original resting position.
When releasing the seat belt, hold the belt before pressing the release button. Doing so prevents the belt from retracting too quickly.
IF A SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER IS FITTED, TO OPERATE
Never attempt to adjust the seat belt height once the vehicle is in motion. Doing so may cause incorrect seat belt adjustment or loss of vehicle control.
Always make sure the height is correctly adjusted and the mechanism is locked in place before driving. Maladjustment of the seat belt could reduce its effectiveness in a crash.
1. Press and hold the button to release the locking mechanism.
2. Slide the mechanism up or down to the required height.
3. Release the button to re-engage the locking mechanism.
Third-row center seat belt system has two metal tongues and buckles which must be latched correctly.
To fasten the center seat belt:
1. Draw the seat belt out smoothly, and connect the larger tongue into the outboard buckle. The outboard buckle is identified by a keyway red button slot. Press the metal tongue into the buckle until a click is heard.
2. Connect the standard tongue to the inboard buckle. The inboard buckle is identified by a red button. Press the tongue into the buckle until a click is heard.
When not in use, the third row seat belts can be stowed away.
Disconnect the centre seat belt from both buckles. Insert the tongues into the slots, located at the headliner bezel.
Disconnect the outboard seat belts from the buckles. Insert the tongues into the feature on the load space trim.
SEAT BELT USE DURING PREGNANCY
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See SEAT BELT SAFETY.
Always position the seat belt correctly for the safety of a pregnant mother and unborn child. Failure to observe this may increase the risk of serious injury during emergency braking or in the event of an accident.
To adjust the seat belt for use during pregnancy:
- Position the lap strap comfortably across the hips, beneath the abdomen.
- Place the diagonal part of the seat belt across the chest, and to the side of the abdomen.+
SEAT BELT CHECKS
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See SEAT BELT SAFETY.
Regularly inspect seat belts for wear and damage. Regularly check for fraying, cuts, or wear to the webbing. Also check the condition and security of the mechanism, buckles, adjusters, and mounting points.
To inspect the condition of the seat belts:
- With the seat belt fastened, give the webbing near the buckle a quick upward pull. The buckle must remain securely locked.
- With the seat belt unfastened, unreel the seat belt to the limit of its travel. Check that it unreels smoothly with no snags. Allow the belt to fully retract with a smooth action.
- Partially unreel the seat belt. Hold the tongue plate and give a quick forward pull. The mechanism must lock and prevent any further unreeling.
If any seat belt fails to meet the above criteria contact a retailer/authorized repairer immediately.
If the vehicle is parked on an incline, the seat belt mechanism may lock. If locking occurs, ease the belt out from the upper anchorage. If the belt does not ease out from the anchorage, return the vehicle to level ground before attempting to release the seat belt again.
If the rear seats are returned to the upright position quickly, the seat belt mechanism may lock. If locking occurs, ease the belt out from the upper anchorage.+
SEAT BELT REMINDER
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See SEAT BELT SAFETY.
An audible warning sounds, and a warning lamp illuminates when the following conditions occur:
- The driver seat, or the front seats are occupied.
- The front seat belts have not been fastened.
- The vehicle accelerates from a low speed.
- A front seat belt is unfastened while the vehicle is moving.
- A rear seat belt is unfastened.
If a front seat belt has not been fastened, the audible and visual warnings turn off after a short period of time.
There may be a short delay at the start of the journey before the passenger side reminder operates.
If a heavy object is placed on the front passenger seat, it may activate the seat belt reminder system. If any objects are placed on the front passenger seat, make sure they are secured using the seat belt.
SEAT BELT MONITOR
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See SEAT BELT SAFETY.
The instrument panel displays a graphic to indicate which rear seat belts are fastened at the start of a journey. The graphic also indicates when a seat belt is fastened or unfastened during a journey.
In all cases, the graphic covers all rear seating positions and may also display front row positions.
SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONERS
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See SEAT BELT SAFETY.
Always check and replace the seat belt pre-tensioners after any activation. Failure to replace the pre-tensioners reduces the effectiveness of the Supplementary Restraint System (SRS).
Seat belt pre-tensioners are fitted to the front, all rear outboard seats, and the third-row center seat.
The seat belt pre-tensioners activate in conjunction with the SRS to provide additional protection in the event of a severe frontal impact. The seat belt pre-tensioners automatically reduce any slack in a seat belt. As a result, the forward movement of an occupant on a seat fitted with a pre-tensioner is reduced.
The second-row center seat is not fitted with a seat belt pre-tensioner.
Load limiters are fitted to all seats, except the second center seat.
Load limiters help to regulate the tension of a seat belt in a severe impact.
On some derivatives, the center second-row seat is also fitted with a pre-tensioner and load limiter.