A child may be too large to fit into a child safety seat, but too small to safely fit the vehicle’s seat belt. In these circumstances it is recommended that a booster seat is used. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the fitting and use of the booster seat. Adjust the vehicle’s seat belt accordingly.
If the booster seat is fitted with LATCH connectors, these should be used to secure the seat in conjunction with the rear seat belt.
- Always attach the top tether when fitting the LATCH seat.
- Carefully follow the instructions supplied with the child seat. Always give the LATCH seat a final pull, to make sure that the lower anchors are secure.
- Always use the appropriate child restraints and adjust the harnesses for every child, every trip.
- Make sure that a child falls into the correct weight range for the seat.
- Avoid dressing a child in bulky clothing. Do not place any objects between the child and the restraint system.
- Regularly check the fit of a child seat. Replace child seats and harnesses that show signs of wear.
- No child seat is completely child-proof. Encourage children not to play with the buckle or harness.
- Never leave a child unsupervised in the vehicle.
- Activate the rear door child safety locks. See CHILD SAFETY LOCKS.
- Set a good example and always wear a seat belt.
CHILD SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
WARNING
Children should travel in the rear of the vehicle at all times. Front passenger seat travel is not recommended. Failure to observe this may result in serious injury, or death in the event of an accident.
WARNING
Extreme hazard! Never place a rearward facing child restraint on the front passenger seat. The infant could be seriously injured or killed if the air bag deploys.
Child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by use of the lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Children could be endangered in a crash if their child restraints are not properly secured.
Foldable seats must be in a secure upright position before fitting a child restraint. See FOLDING AND RAISING THE THIRD ROW SEATS.
A child should only travel in the front passenger seat if it is essential and national or state legislation permits it. If this is the case, it is recommended that the following preparations are made before fitting the child restraint:
- Adjust the seat to the rearmost position.
- Adjust the seat cushion to the highest position.
- Adjust the seatback to the optimum upright position to support the child seat.
- Adjust any lumbar support to the minimum support position.
- Adjust any cushion extenders to the fully retracted position.
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS
WARNING
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
It is recommended that the rear door interior handles are disabled if children are to be carried in the rear seat positions.
Press the button located on the driver’s door to activate the child door locks and inhibit the rear windows. The LED indicator illuminates when active, and the instrument panel displays a message.
To switch off, press the button again. The LED extinguishes and the instrument panel displays a message.
WARNING LABELS
WARNING
Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
WARNING
Extreme hazard! Never place a rearward facing child restraint on the front seat. The infant could be seriously injured or killed if the air bag deploys.
The above label is affixed to the passenger’s side sun-visor. The label warns against the use of a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger’s seat, when a front passenger air bag is fitted and operational.
WARNING
Never let a child’s head rest near to a front seat side air bag, as an inflating air bag can cause serious or fatal injury.
The above label is affixed to both B pillars. The label warns against a child sitting too close to the front seat side air bag.
VEHICLE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
WARNING
- Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
- Extreme hazard! Never place a rearward facing child restraint on the front passenger seat. The infant could be seriously injured or killed if the air bag deploys.
- All children under the age of 4 should ride in the second row seats. Children aged between 4 and 12 should ride in either the second or third row seats.
- Even with advanced air bags, children can be killed or seriously injured. Never place a child in any type of child restraint or booster in the front passenger seat.
- Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.
- Make sure the child seat fits the child properly. Always check the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions and labels for height and weight limits.
VEHICLES WITH ADJUSTABLE SECOND ROW SEATS:
Before fitting a child seat to a second row adjustable seat, adjust the second row seatback to the upright position to support the child seat.
VEHICLES WITH THIRD ROW SEATS:
Do not allow children under the age of 4 use the third row seats.
FITTING LATCH CHILD RESTRAINTS
WARNING
- Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
- Never attempt to fit LATCH child restraints to the center rear seating position. The anchor bars are not designed to hold a LATCH child restraint in this position. The child could be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle.
- If the child restraint is not correctly anchored, there is a significant risk of injury to the child in the event of a collision or emergency braking.
- 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.
- Both of the outer rear seat positions are equipped to accept LATCH child restraints.
To fit a LATCH child seat:
- A label displaying the LATCH symbol is shown on the flaps covering the lower anchor bars, or on the seats close to the lower anchor bars. The label indicates the position of the LATCH anchor points. Identify the anchor bars and remove any covers. Slide the child seat into position and attach the locking mechanism to the LATCH anchor bars.
NOTES
Store the access covers safely. Refit the covers when the child restraint is removed from the vehicle.
For child seats fitted with non-rigid LATCH connectors, connect the lower tether strap hooks to the anchor bars and tighten the straps.
Test the security of the child restraint. To do this, attempt to pull the restraint away from the vehicle’s seat and twist the restraint from side to side. Even if the restraint appears secure, the anchor points should be checked visually to make sure they are correctly attached.
NOTES
Always make sure that if an upper tether is provided, it is fitted and tightened correctly.
NOTES
For child restraints fitted with a support leg, adjust the leg so that it rests firmly on the floor.
FITTING TETHER ANCHORAGE CHILD RESTRAINTS
WARNING
- Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
- Always follow the child seat or restraint system manufacturer’s instructions when fitting tether straps. The child could be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured.
- Always pass the tether strap over the top of the seatback and underneath the head restraint, when fitting a child seat or restraint. The child could be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured.
- If a child seat or restraint system is to be fitted to the center seating position, the center armrest must be in the stowed position (folded into the seat). It is impossible to secure the child seat or restraint system correctly with the armrest in place, which reduces the effectiveness of the restraint in the event of an accident. In the event of an accident, an unsecured object could cause serious injury.
- Tether strap anchor points are located behind the second-row seats. The anchor points should be used to attach tether straps from a child seat or restraint system.
- Always fit the upper tether anchorage and tighten correctly.
Sliding seats
Fixed seats
Fit the tether straps as follows:
- Fit the child restraint securely in one of the rear seating positions.
- Pass the tether strap over the seatback, beneath the head restraint, and between the seatback and the loadspace cover.
- Attach the tether strap hook to the tether anchor point on the back of the seat. Make sure the tether strap hook is facing the correct way, as illustrated.
- Tighten the tether strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
NOTES
For 5-seat vehicles fitted with sliding seats, the loadspace floor should be lifted and moved rearward. This allows access to the tether anchor points. The loadspace floor should be replaced after attaching the tether straps.