2007 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual M
Seats and Restraint Systems ....................... 7
Front Seats
.............................................. 9
Rear Seats
............................................. 18
Safety Belts
............................................ 38
Child Restraints
...................................... 60
Airbag System ........................................ 89
Restraint System Check
....................... 106
Features and Controls .............................. 109
Keys
..................................................... 111
Doors and Locks
.................................. 120
Windows
............................................... 131
Theft-Deterrent Systems
....................... 133
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
..... 137
Mirrors
.................................................. 155
OnStar® System ................................... 163
Universal Home Remote System .......... 165
Storage Areas
...................................... 170
Sunroof
................................................ 179
Instrument Panel ....................................... 181
................... 184
................................... 212
.. 220
............ 239
................................... 265
Driving Your Vehicle ................................. 317
Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)
Your Driving, the Road, and
Towing
Your Vehicle
..................................... 318
................................................. 372
Service and Appearance Care .................. 389
................................................. 392
...................................................... 395
......... 400
..................................... 438
............................................. 439
............................................ 440
................................. 441
Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood All-Wheel Drive Rear Axle Front Axle Headlamp Aiming
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule .............................. 513
.......................... 514
Customer Assistance Information ............. 535
... 536
...................... 552
Index .......................................................... 555
Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects
Bulb Replacement
................................ 445
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
... 448
Tires
..................................................... 450
Appearance Care
.................................. 492
Vehicle Identification
............................. 502
Electrical System .................................. 502
Capacities and Specifications
................ 512
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CADILLAC, the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath, and the names ESCALADE and ESV are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Cadillac Motor Car Division whenever it appears in this manual. Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is ever needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is sold, leave the manual in the vehicle.
Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15854796 A First Printing
©2005 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.”
Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt.
Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this manual you will find these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown
along with the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific component,
control, message, gage, or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of
a component, gage, or indicator, reference
the following topics:
(cid:127) Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
(cid:127) Features and Controls in Section 2
(cid:127)
(cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3
(cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in
Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
Section 3
(cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3
(cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................9
Power Seats ..................................................9
Power Lumbar .............................................10
Heated Seats ...............................................11
Heated and Cooled Seats ............................12
Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals ...............13
Power Reclining Seatbacks ..........................15
Head Restraints ...........................................17
Center Seat .................................................18
Rear Seats .....................................................18
Heated Seats ...............................................18
60/40 Split Bench Seat (Second Row) .........19
Bucket Seats (Second Row) .........................26
Third Row Seat ............................................33
Safety Belts ...................................................38
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ............38
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts ..............................................42
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ..............43
Driver Position .............................................43
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment ..................50
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ...............51
Right Front Passenger Position ....................51
Center Front Passenger Position ..................52
Rear Seat Passengers .................................53
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides .................56
Safety Belt Pretensioners .............................59
Safety Belt Extender ....................................59
Child Restraints .............................................60
Older Children ..............................................60
Infants and Young Children ..........................63
Child Restraint Systems ...............................67
Where to Put the Restraint ...........................72
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) .....................................73
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position ....................................82
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position ........................84
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position ..........................85
Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .....104
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .........................105
Restraint System Check ..............................106
Checking the Restraint Systems .................106
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ..........................................107
Airbag System ...............................................89
Where Are the Airbags? ...............................92
When Should an Airbag Inflate? ...................95
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? ....................97
How Does an Airbag Restrain? ....................98
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates? ....................................................98
Passenger Sensing System ........................100
Front Seats
Power Seats
The power seat controls are located on the outboard side of the front seats. (cid:127) Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding
the control forward or rearward.
(cid:127) Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion
by moving the front of the control up or down.
(cid:127) Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion
by moving the rear of the control up or down. (cid:127) Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the
entire control up or down.
The power reclining seatback control is located behind the power seat control on the outboard side of the seats. See Power Reclining Seatbacks on page 15. Your vehicle has a memory function which allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 13.
Driver’s Seat with Power Seat Control,
Power Recline, and Power Lumbar shown
(cid:127) To raise the height of the support, press and
hold the top of the control.
(cid:127) To lower the height of the support, press and
hold the bottom of the control.
Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support. Your vehicle has a memory function which allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 13 for more information. Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.
Power Lumbar
The controls used to operate the power lumbar feature are located on the outboard side of the seats. (cid:127) To increase lumbar support, press and hold
the front of the control.
(cid:127) To decrease lumbar support, press and hold
the rear of the control.
10
z (Heated Seat and Seatback): To heat the entire seat, press the bottom button with the heated seat and seatback symbol. This symbol will appear on the climate control display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium and low and to turn the heated seat off. Indicator bars next to the symbol designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low. The heated seats will be canceled ten seconds after the ignition is turned off. If you want to use the heated seat feature after you restart the vehicle, you will need to press the appropriate heated seat button again. If your vehicle has heated and cooled seats, see Heated and Cooled Seats on page 12.
Heated Seats
If the front seats have the heated seat feature, the buttons used to control this feature are located on the climate control panel.
+ (Heated Seatback): To heat only the seatback, press the top button with the heated seatback symbol. This symbol will appear on the climate control display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium and low and to turn the heated seatback off. Indicator bars next to the symbol designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low.
11
Heated and Cooled Seats
If the front seats have the heated and cooled seat feature, the buttons used to control this feature are located on the climate control panel.
{ (Cooled Seat): To cool the entire seat, press the button with the cooled seat symbol. This symbol will appear on the climate control display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium and low and to turn the cooled seat off. Indicator bars next to the symbol designate the level of cooling selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low.
12
+ (Heated Seatback): To heat only the seatback, press the button with the heated seatback symbol. This symbol will appear on the climate control display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium and low and to turn the heated seatback off. Indicator bars next to the symbol designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low.
z (Heated Seat and Seatback): To heat the entire seat, press the button with the heated seat and seatback symbol. This symbol will appear on the climate control display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium and low and to turn the heated seat off. Indicator bars next to the symbol designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low. The heated and cooled seats will be canceled after the ignition is turned off. If you want to use the heated and cooled seat feature after you restart your vehicle, you will need to press the appropriate seat button again.
Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals Your vehicle has the memory package.
The controls for this feature are located on the driver’s door panel, and are used to program and recall memory settings for the driver’s seat, outside mirrors, and the adjustable throttle and brake pedal feature if your vehicle has it.
To save your positions in memory, do the following: 1. Adjust the driver’s seat, including the seatback recliner and lumbar, both outside mirrors, and the throttle and brake pedals to a comfortable position.
See Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors on page 160 and Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 141 for more information. Some mirrors might not function with the memory feature.
2. Press and hold button 1 until two beeps sound
through the driver’s front speaker to let you know that the position has been stored.
A second seating, mirror, and throttle and brake
pedal position can be programmed by repeating
the above steps and pressing button 2.
To recall the memory positions, the vehicle must
be in PARK (P). Press and release either button 1
or button 2 corresponding to the desired driving
position. The seat, outside mirrors, and adjustable
throttle and brake pedals will move to the position
previously stored. You will hear a single beep.
13
If you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to enter your vehicle and the remote recall memory feature is on, automatic seat, mirror, and adjustable pedal movement will occur. See “MEMORY SEAT RECALL” under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 254 for more information. To stop recall movement of the memory feature at any time, press one of the power seat controls, memory buttons, power mirror buttons, or adjustable pedal switch. If something has blocked the driver’s seat and/or the adjustable pedals while recalling a memory position, the driver’s seat and/or the adjustable pedals recall may stop working. If this happens, press the appropriate control for the area that is not recalling for two seconds, after the obstruction is removed. Then try recalling the memory position again by pressing the appropriate memory button. If the memory position is still not recalling, see your GM dealer for service.
Easy Exit Seat The control for this feature is located on the driver’s door panel between buttons 1 and 2. With the vehicle in PARK (P), the exit position can be recalled by pressing the exit button. You will hear a single beep. The driver’s seat will move back. If the easy exit seat feature is on in the Driver Information Center (DIC), automatic seat movement will occur when the key is removed from the ignition. See “EASY EXIT SEAT” under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 254 for more information. Further programming for the memory seat feature can be done using the DIC. You can select or not select the following: (cid:127) The automatic easy exit seat feature (cid:127) The remote memory seat recall feature For programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization on page 254.
14
Power Reclining Seatbacks
The controls for the power reclining seatback are located on the outboard side of the front seats behind the power seat control. (cid:127) To recline the seatback, tilt the top of the
control rearward.
(cid:127) To bring the seatback forward, tilt the top
of the control forward.
Driver’s Seat with Power Seat Control,
Power Recline, and Power Lumbar shown
15
CAUTION:
(Continued)
The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. Your vehicle has a memory function which allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 13.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this.
CAUTION:
(Continued)
16
Head Restraints
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the release button (A), located on the top of the seatback, while you push the head restraint down.
The front seats may have head restraints that also tilt forward and rearward. To tilt the head restraint, grasp the top of the restraint while pressing the button (B), located on the right hand side of the head restraint, and move it forward or rearward until the desired locking position is reached. Try to move the head restraint after the button is released to make sure that it is locked in place. The second row seats may have head restraints that can be adjusted up and down, but they do not tilt.
17
Center Seat Your vehicle may have a front center seat. The seatback doubles as an armrest and cupholder/ storage area for the driver and passenger when the center seat is not used. Do not use it as a seating position when the seatback is folded down. For information on safety belts for this position, see Center Front Passenger Position on page 52.
Rear Seats
Heated Seats
The rear seats have the heated seat feature, the buttons used to control this feature are located on the Rear Seat Audio (RSA) panel.
Driver’s Side RSA Heated Seat Button
Only shown
M (Heated Seat): To heat the seat cushion, press the button with the heated seat symbol. A heated seat symbol will be shown in the RSA display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium, and low, and to turn it off.
18
Manual Fold and Tumble Feature Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s) To fold and tumble the seat, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under, in
front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
Indicator bars next to the symbol will designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low. The heated seats will be canceled ten seconds after the ignition is turned off. If the vehicle is restarted, the heated seat button will need to be pressed again to restart the feature.
60/40 Split Bench Seat (Second Row) If your vehicle has a 60/40 split bench, the seat(s) can be folded for additional cargo space or folded and tumbled for easy entry and exit to the third row seats, if your vehicle has them. These seats will have either the manual fold and tumble feature or the automatic seat release fold and tumble feature.
2. Lift the lever, located on the outboard side of
the seat, to release the seatback.
19
3. Lift the same lever
again to release the rear of the seat from the floor. The seat will tumble forward.
The seatback will fold forward automatically. Leaving the seatback in this position creates a flat load floor. If the seatback cannot fold flat, try moving the front seat forward and/or put the front seatback in the upright position.
20
Returning the Seat(s) to the Sitting Position To return the seat to the sitting position, do the following:
1. Pull the seat down until it latches to the floor. The seatback cannot be raised if the seat is not latched to the floor.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
2. Lift the seatback and push it rearward.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.
3. Make sure the safety belt in the center
seating position is not caught between the two seats and is not twisted.
21
Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s) from the Third Row Seats
{CAUTION:
Using the third row seating position while the second row is folded, or folded and tumbled, could cause injury in a sudden stop or crash. Be sure to return the seat to the passenger seating position. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.
To fold and tumble the seat from the third rows, if your vehicle has them, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under,
in front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
22
2. Lift the lever(s), located on the bottom rear
of the second row seat(s) on the inboard side, to release the seatback. The seatback will fold forward.
3. Lift the same lever again to release the rear of the seat from the floor. The seat will tumble forward automatically.
Automatic Release Fold and Tumble Feature The transmission must be in PARK (P) for this feature to work. Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s)
{CAUTION:
Automatically folding and tumbling the seat when someone is sitting in the seat, could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always make sure there is no one sitting in the seat before pressing the automatic seat release button.
To fold and tumble the seat, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under,
in front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
2. From the front
seats, press one of the automatic seat release buttons located on the overhead console.
Overhead Console
Buttons shown,
Panel Button similar
When accessing the third row seats, if your vehicle has them, from the outside of the vehicle, press the button on the panel behind either rear door. One press of the button automatically folds the seatback flat and tumbles the seat forward. There will be a slight delay between the folding of the seatback and the tumbling of the seat.
23
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.
3. Make sure that the safety belt in the center seating position is not caught between the two seats and is not twisted.
Returning the Seat(s) to the Sitting Position To return the seat to the sitting position, do the following:
1. Pull the seat down until it latches to the floor. The seatback cannot be raised if the seat is not latched to the floor.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
2. Lift the seatback and push it rearward.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
24
2. Press the automatic seat release button located on the panel behind the rear doors.
Driver’s Side Rear Panel
Button shown
One press of the button automatically folds the seatback flat and tumbles the seat forward. There will be a slight delay between the folding of the seatback and the tumbling of the seat.
Folding and Tumbling the Second Row Seat(s) from the Third Row Seats or Outside
{CAUTION:
Using the third row seating position while the second row is folded, or folded and tumbled, could cause injury in a sudden stop or crash. Be sure to return the seat to the passenger seating position. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.
To fold and tumble the seat from the third row seats, if your vehicle has them, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under,
in front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
25
Bucket Seats (Second Row) If your vehicle has bucket seats, the seatbacks can be reclined, the seats can be folded for additional cargo space, or folded and tumbled for easy entry and exit to the third row seats, if your vehicle has them. These seats will have either the manual fold and tumble feature or the automatic seat release fold and tumble feature.
Reclining Seatbacks To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the lever located on the outboard side
of the seat.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure
it is locked.
26
Manual Fold and Tumble Feature Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s) To fold and tumble the seat, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under, in
front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure
it is locked.
2. Lift the lever, located on the outboard side of
the seat, to release the seatback.
27
3. Lift the lever again to release the rear of the seat from the floor. The seat will tumble forward.
The seatback will fold forward. Leaving the seatback in this position creates a flat load floor. If the seatback cannot fold flat, try moving the front seat forward and/or put the front seatback in the upright position.
28
Returning the Seat(s) to the Sitting Position To return the seat to the sitting position, do the following:
1. Pull the seat down until it latches to the floor. The seatback cannot be raised if the seat is not latched to the floor.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
2. Lift the seatback and push it rearward.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s) from the Third Row Seats
{CAUTION:
Using the third row seating position while the second row is folded, or folded and tumbled, could cause injury in a sudden stop or crash. Be sure to return the seat to the passenger seating position. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.
To fold and tumble the seat from the third row seats, if your vehicle has them, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under, in
front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
29
2. Lift the lever, located
on the bottom rear of the second row seat on the inboard side, to release the seatback. The seatback will fold forward.
3. Lift the lever again to release the rear of
the seat from the floor. The seat will tumble forward.
Automatic Release Fold and Tumble Feature The transmission must be in PARK (P) for this feature to work. Folding and Tumbling the Seat(s)
{CAUTION:
Automatically folding and tumbling the seat when someone is sitting in the seat, could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always make sure there is no one sitting in the seat before pressing the automatic seat release button.
To fold and tumble the seat, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under, in
front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
30
2. From the front
seats, press one of the automatic seat release buttons located on the overhead console.
Returning the Seat(s) to the Sitting Position To return the seat to the sitting position, do the following:
1. Pull the seat down until it latches to the floor. The seatback cannot be raised if the seat is not latched to the floor.
Overhead Console
Buttons shown
{CAUTION:
When accessing the third row seats, if your vehicle has them, from the outside of the vehicle, press the button on the panel behind either rear door. One press of the button automatically folds the seatback flat and tumbles the seat forward. There will be a slight delay between the folding of the seatback and the tumbling of the seat.
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
2. Lift the seatback and push it rearward.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
31
2. Press the automatic seat release button located on the panel behind the rear doors.
Driver’s Side Rear Panel
Button shown
One press of the button automatically folds the seatback flat and tumbles the seat forward. There will be a slight delay between the folding of the seatback and the tumbling of the seat.
Folding and Tumbling the Second Row Seat(s) from the Third Row Seats or Outside
{CAUTION:
Using the third row seating position while the second row is folded, or folded and tumbled, could cause injury in a sudden stop or crash. Be sure to return the seat to the passenger seating position. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.
To fold and tumble the seat from the third row seats, if your vehicle has them, do the following: 1. Make sure that there is nothing under, in
front of, or on the seat.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
32
Third Row Seat If the vehicle has a third row seat, the seatback(s) can be folded and the entire seat can be tumbled, or removed from the vehicle. Folding the Seatback(s) To fold the seatback, do the following: 1. Open the liftgate to access the controls
for the seat.
2. Remove all items on the seat cushion. Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.
3. Lift the release lever, located on the bottom rear of the seatback on the outboard side of the seat, and the seatback will fold forward.
33
Unfolding the Seatback(s) To return the seatback to the upright position, do the following: 1. Open the liftgate to access the controls
for the seat.
2. Pull up on the seatback until it locks into
the upright position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure
it is locked.
Tumbling the Third Row Seat The seat can be tumbled forward for additional cargo space. To tumble the seat, do the following: 1. Open the liftgate to access the controls
for the seat.
2. Make sure the head rests are completely
lowered, there is nothing under, in front of, or on the seat, and all items are removed from the cupholder and storage bin, if the seat is a two-passenger seat.
3. Fold the seatbacks forward using the instructions listed under “Folding the Seatbacks” previously. You will not be able to unlatch the seat from the floor unless the seatback is folded down.
34
4. Unlatch the seat from the floor by lifting the lever located next to the carrying handle on the rear of the seat near the bottom.
5. Lift the rear of the seat up from the floor. 6. Tilt the seat fully forward to lock it into place. 7. Push and pull on the seat to make sure
it is locked.
Put the seat in this position only when necessary for additional cargo space. Returning the Third Row Seat from a Tumbled Position To return the seat to the normal seating position, do the following: 1. Open the liftgate to access the controls
for the seat.
2. Make sure there is nothing that could become
trapped under the seat.
3. Release the seat from the tumbled position by
lifting the lever located next to the carrying handle at the bottom rear of the seat.
4. Pull the seat down until it latches to the floor. The seatback cannot be raised if the seat is not latched to the floor.
5. Pull up on the seatback until it locks into the
upright position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
6. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure
it is locked.
35
Removing the Third Row Seat To remove the seat, do the following: 1. Open the liftgate to access the controls
for the seat.
2. Fold the seatback forward using the instructions listed under “Folding the Seatbacks” previously. The seat cannot be removed unless the seatback is folded.
3. Unlatch the seat from the floor by pulling the carrying handle, located at the rear of the seat, rearward.
4. Roll the seat out of the vehicle. There is a track in the floor to guide the seat wheels out of the vehicle.
36
Installing the Third Row Seat To install the seat, do the following: 1. Open the liftgate to access the rear of
the vehicle.
2. Slide the front outboard seat wheels into the
track on the floor and roll the seat forward. The front latches should lock into place. If the latches do not lock, try tilting the rear of the seat upward slightly.
3. Lower the rear of the seat and push down on
the seat to engage the rear floor latches.
{CAUTION:
A seat that is not locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.
4. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is
locked into place. The seatback cannot be raised to the upright position unless the seat is secured to the floor.
5. Pull up on the seatback until it locks into the
upright position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
6. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure
it is locked.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.
7. Make sure the safety belts are returned to
the original position over the seatbacks.
37
Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.
38
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 223.
Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work. You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot!
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.
39
Put someone on it.
Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.
40
The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
or the instrument panel...
41
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a
safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I
have to wear safety belts?
or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.
A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.
42
Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive
far from home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are
in an accident — even one that is not your fault — you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 60 or Infants and Young Children on page 63. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We will start with the driver position.
Driver Position Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.
To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.
43
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment on page 50.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across
you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until
it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 59.
44
6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder belt.
The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries.
45
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give
nearly as much protection this way.
46
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
47
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen.
Q: What is wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm.
It should be worn over the shoulder at all times.
48
Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
49
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash.
To move it down, squeeze the buttons (A) on the sides of the height adjuster and move the height adjuster to the desired position.
You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the buttons to make sure it has locked into position.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.
50
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 43. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature which may turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.
51
Center Front Passenger Position Lap Belt If your vehicle has a front bench seat, someone can sit in the center position.
To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 59. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
When you sit in the center front seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt.
52
Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seat positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt
across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.
53
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 59. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder part.
54
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries.
The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.
55
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head.
There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the second row seat and the third row, if your vehicle has one. Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt:
Second Row
1. For the second row, remove the guide from
its storage clip on the interior body.
56
Third Row
If your vehicle has a third row, remove the guide from its storage pocket on the side of the seat.
2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.
57
3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
58
Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. It is free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.
4. Buckle, position, and release the safety
belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 53. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Slide the guide into its storage pocket.
Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal, rear or side crash, or a rollover. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 107.
59
Q: What is the proper way to wear safety
belts?
A: If possible, 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. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. 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 safety belts properly.
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. If you have the choice, a child should sit in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
60
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time.
61
Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder
belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: If the child is sitting in a rear seat outside position, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. If the child is sitting in the second row center position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint that belts provide. See Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on page 56. If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child’s face or neck, you might want to place the child in a rear seat that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one.
62
{CAUTION:
Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.
Infants and Young Children 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.
{CAUTION:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint.
63
{CAUTION:
People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint.
64
{CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide.
Q: What are the different types of add-on
child restraints?
A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used.
65
For most basic types of child restraints, 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 restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint, state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints.
66
{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle.
67
A rear-facing infant seat (B) 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.
A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.
68
A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.
Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint? A: A child restraint system is any device designed
for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child restraints, the child has to be secured within the child restraint. When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both.
69
Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems 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) on page 73 for more information. A child 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 instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. 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 your vehicle — even when no child is in it.
70
Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The five-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side.
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly secured, following the instructions that came with that restraint.
Because there are different systems, it is important to refer to the instructions that come with the restraint. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint.
71
Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag.
CAUTION:
(Continued)
72
CAUTION:
(Continued)
Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the center front seat position. The restraints will not work properly. Wherever you install it, be sure to 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 your vehicle — even when no child is in it.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system. Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that 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 safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be attached using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors. Your child restraint may have lower attachments and a top tether. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.
73
Lower Anchors
Top Tether Anchor
Lower anchors (A) 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 (B).
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) 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.
74
Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor. Some child restraints with top tethers 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. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations
Second Row — 60/40
j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
Second Row — Bucket
75
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
Third Row — Two
Passenger
i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.
For models with a three passenger third row seat, see the information following for installing a child restraint with a top tether in the third row, if your vehicle has one. Never install two top tethers using the same top tether anchor. For models with 60/40 second row seating, the rear right side passenger and center seating positions have exposed metal anchors located in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion. For models with second row bucket seats, both rear seating positions have exposed metal anchors located in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.
Third Row — Three
Passenger
76
Second Row Seat — Bucket
Second Row Seat — 60/40
For models with bucket second row seating, the top tether anchors are located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion for each seating position in the second row. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
For models with 60/40 second row seating, the top tether anchors are located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion for each seating position in the second row. Be sure to use an anchor located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
77
For vehicles with a three passenger third row
seat, there is one top tether anchor located at
the bottom rear of the seat cushion that can
be used for either the third row center or driver
side seating position. Never install two top tethers
using the same top tether anchor.
Do not secure a child restraint in the right front
passenger position or the third row passenger side
seating position if your vehicle has a third row
seat, 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. There is no place to
attach the top tether in these positions.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if
they are restrained in the rear rather than the front
seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 72
for additional information.
Third Row Seat — Two or Three Passenger
For vehicles with a two passenger third row seat, there is one top tether anchor located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion that can be used for the rear driver side seating position in the third row. Never install two top tethers using the same top tether anchor.
78
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously