Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend 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. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here is why:
Caution: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though the airbag is turned off. Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you 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.There is limited space in the third row rear seating area. If you want to secure a child restraint in a rear seating position in the third row, be sure to study the instructions that came with your child restraint to see if there is enough room to secure your seat properly. If the length of the seat cushion is too short for your child restraint and you cannot install it in accordance with the child restraint manufacturers instructions, secure it in the second row.
If you need to secure more than one child restraint in the rear seat, review the following illustrations. Depending on where you place the child restraint or the size of the child restraint, you may not be able to access certain safety belt assemblies or LATCH anchors for additional passengers or child restraints.
Configurations for Use of Two Child Restraints
Child restraint using LATCH
Occupant prohibited
Occupant prohibited
Child restraint using LATCH
Child restraint using LATCH
No occupant recommended
Child restraint or occupant using safety belt
Configurations for Use of Three Child Restraints
Child restraint or occupant using safety belt
Child restraint or occupant using safety belt
Child restraint using LATCH
Wherever you install a child restraint, 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.
