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, on 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 airbag 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 SECOND 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.
The rear door interior handles should be 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. The instrument panel displays a confirmation message.
When the child lock is on, the following will not work for rear executive seats:
- All primary movements on the door switch pack.
- Memory recall.
- Secondary adjustments via rear armrest screen.
- Rear executive armrest.
- Cupholder stow and deploy.
To switch off, press the button again. The LED extinguishes. The instrument panel displays a confirmation 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.
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.
WARNING
Even with advanced air bags, children can be killed or seriously injured. Never place a child in any type of child restraint or booster seat in the front passenger seat. All children under the age of 4 should ride in the second-row outboard seats or third-row seats only, children between the ages of 4 and 12 can ride in any second or third row seat.
NOTES
Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child restraint system.
NOTES
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.
FITTING LATCH CHILD RESTRAINTS
ALL VEHICLES:
WARNING
- Make sure to read and fully understand the relevant warnings before using any of the features in this section. See CHILD SEAT SAFETY.
- Do not attempt to fit LATCH restraints to the center rear seating position. The anchor bars are not designed to hold a LATCH 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 maneuver.
- WARNING: 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.
- LATCH anchorages are provided at the outer seat positions on the second row seats and both of the third row seats.
To fit a LATCH child seat:
- A label displaying the LATCH symbol is sewn into the flaps, to indicate the position of the LATCH lower anchorages.
- Raise the flap to expose the LATCH anchor points. Slide the child seat locking mechanism into both of the anchor points.
For child seats fitted with non-rigid LATCH connectors, connect the lower tether strap hooks to the anchor bars and tighten the straps.
NOTES
If required, rotate the support strut on the rear of the flap through 90 degrees to lock the flap in the raised position.
Some child restraints are fitted with an upper tether anchorage. See FITTING TETHER ANCHORAGE CHILD RESTRAINTS.
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 a top tether strap 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.
NOTES
After removing a child restraint, always make sure the lower anchor bar flap is fully closed. Failure to fully close a flap could hinder a seat fold maneuver.
VEHICLES WITH REAR BENCH SEATS
To fit a LATCH child seat with a top tether strap:
- Move the front seat fully forward.
- Place the child restraint as far forward as possible in one of the outer rear seating positions.
- Release the rear seatback. See FOLDING AND RAISING THE SECOND ROW SEATS.
- With the rear seatback remaining partially folded, attach the top tether strap. Do not add tension to the top tether strap at this point. See FITTING TETHER ANCHORAGE CHILD RESTRAINTS.
- Return the rear seatback to the fully raised position.
WARNING
Make sure the locking mechanism is fully engaged when the rear seatback is raised. An unsecured seatback may not properly support an occupant during a collision or sudden stop.
- Slide the child seat locking mechanism into the anchor points.
- Return the front seat to its original position.
- Tension the top tether strap according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
NOTES
Always make sure that if a top tether strap is provided, it is fitted and tightened correctly.
To test the security of the child restraint, 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 anchors should be checked visually to make sure they are correctly attached.
VEHICLES WITH EXECUTIVE CLASS REAR SEATS
NOTES
LATCH anchorage points are covered by sewn flaps in executive seats. Uncover the anchorages to access and fit child restraints.
To fit a LATCH child seat with a top tether strap:
- Fit the child restraint securely in one of the rear seating positions.
- Pass the tether strap over the seatback and beneath the head restraint for the outer seat positions.
NOTES
For the center seat position, make sure that the center head restraint is at its lowest position. Then pass the tether strap over the fixed head restraint.
- Attach the tether strap hook to the tether anchor point on the back of the seat. Make sure that the tether strap hook is facing toward the back of the seat.
- Tighten the tether strap, according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
NOTES
Always make sure that if a top tether strap is provided, it is fitted and tightened correctly.
To test the security of the child restraint, 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 anchors should be checked visually to make sure they are correctly attached.
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.
ALL VEHICLES:
WARNING
- 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 in the vehicle.
- When fitting a child seat or restraint system, always pass the tether strap over the top of the seatback and beneath the head restraint. In the event of an accident, an unsecured object could cause serious injury.
- If removing a head restraint in order to fit a child restraint, always secure the head restraint when storing it. In the event of an accident, an unsecured object could cause serious injury.
- Before fitting a child seat or restraint system to the center rear seating position, the center armrest must be raised (stored) into the seatback. In the event of an accident, an unsecured object could cause serious injury.
- If a head restraint is removed to fit a child seat, make sure it is refitted before the seat is used by the passenger. See REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS
- The vehicle is equipped with anchorage points on the back of the second-row seat frames. The anchorage points should be used to attach straps from child seats or restraint systems.
NOTES
Anchorage point locations on the back of the seat frames may vary depending on the specification of the vehicle.
VEHICLES WITH REAR BENCH SEATS:
To attach a child restraint to an anchorage point:
- Fit the child restraint securely in one of the rear seating positions.
- Pass the tether strap over the seatback and beneath the head restraint for the outer seat positions.
NOTES
For the center seat position, make sure that the center head restraint is at its lowest position. Then pass the tether strap over the fixed head restraint.
- Attach the tether strap hook to the tether anchor point on the back of the seat. Make sure that the tether strap hook is facing toward the back of the seat.
- Tighten the tether strap, according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
NOTES
A tether anchorage is provided for the center seat position. Do not use this anchor position with a LATCH anchorage child seat.
VEHICLES WITH EXECUTIVE CLASS REAR SEATS:
To attach a child restraint to an anchorage point:
- Fit the child restraint securely in one of the rear seating positions.
- Pass the tether strap over the seatback and beneath the head restraint for the outer seat positions.
NOTES
For the center seat position, make sure that the center head restraint is at its lowest position. Then pass the tether strap over the fixed head restraint.
- Attach the tether strap hook to the tether anchor point on the back of the seat. Make sure that the tether strap hook is facing toward the back of the seat.
- Tighten the tether strap, according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
NOTES
A tether anchorage is provided for the center seat position. Do not use this anchor position with a LATCH anchorage child seat.
THIRD ROW SEATS:
- Fit the child restraint securely in a third-row seat.
- If the child restraint has two tether straps, pass one strap around each side of the head restraint. If the child restraint has one tether strap, pass the strap around the left side of the head restraint.
- Attach the tether strap hook to the anchor point on the back of the same seat. Make sure the strap is not twisted, and that the hook is facing toward the back of the seat.
- Tighten the tether strap(s) according to the child seat manufacturer’s instructions.