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 installed using only the top tether and top tether 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.

Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.

Lower Anchors

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).

Top Tether Anchor

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.

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 that have a top tether 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. 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

(Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.

(Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.

(Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.

(Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.

(Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.

For crew cab models, there are exposed metal lower anchors for each rear outboard seating position, located where the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion.

For extended cab models with rear seats, there are exposed metal lower anchors for each rear seating position, attached to the back wall, near the seat cushion.

To assist you in locating the lower anchors, place your hand in a palm-up position and reach up between the seat cushion and the seatback.

To assist you in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is located on the cover.

The top tether anchors in a crew cab model are located on the back wall behind each rear seating position. 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.

The top tether anchors in an extended cab model are located on the center of the back wall behind a removable cover for the rear seating positions. Be sure to use an anchor located nearest to the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.

For extended cab models without rear seats, there is a top tether anchor located behind a removable cover on the back wall behind the right front passenger seat. You may have to pull the seatback forward to access the anchor.

Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a top tether anchor 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.

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 for additional information.

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System

Caution: If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the child restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Install a LATCH-type child restraint properly using the anchors, or use the vehicle's safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with the child restraint and the instructions in this manual.

Caution: Do not attach more than one child restraint to a single anchor. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, attach only one child restraint per anchor.

Caution: Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Buckle any unused safety belts behind the child restraint so children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed.

Notice: Do not let the LATCH attachments rub against the vehicle’s safety belts. This may damage these parts. If necessary, move buckled safety belts to avoid rubbing the LATCH attachments.

Crew Cab -- Rear Seat

1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach the top tether to the top tether anchor (A). Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:

2.1.	Pull the seatback forward to access the top tether anchors (A). See Rear Seat Operation .

2.2.	Route the top tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:





If the position you are using has a fixed headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the headrest or head restraint.





If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.





If the position you are using has a fixed or adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.

2.3.	Attach the top tether to the anchor (A). Make sure that you secure the top tether to the top tether anchor and not to the seatback latch (B).

2.4.	Push rearward on the seatback until it locks into its upright position. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is secured properly.

3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.

3.1.	Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.

3.2.	Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors.

4. Tighten the top tether.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

Extended Cab -- Rear Seat

1. Attach the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.

1.1.	Find the lower anchors (D), if equipped, for the desired seating position.

1.2.	Put the child restraint on the seat.

1.3.	Attach the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower anchors (D), if equipped, in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show you how.

2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor (C). Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:




2.1.	Pull on the finger access tab to remove the cover to access the top tether anchors (C).

2.2.	Route the top tether (A) through the loop (B) at the top of the seatback to attach the top tether to one of the top tether anchors (C).

3. Tighten the lower anchor attachments and the top tether. The child restraint instructions will show you how.
4. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.

Front Seat -- Extended Cab without Rear Seats

Your vehicle has a right front passenger's airbag and a passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger's frontal airbag when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position and Passenger Sensing System for important safety information and additional information on installing a child restraint in the right front seat position.

1. See Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position for instructions on installing the child restraint using the safety belts.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:

2.1.	Find the top tether anchor.

2.2.	Pull the seatback forward to access the top tether anchor. See Seatback Latches .

2.3.	Pull on the finger access tab to remove the cover to access the top tether anchor.

2.4.	Route the top tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:





If the position you are using has a fixed headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the headrest or head restraint.





If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.





If the position you are using has a fixed or adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether around the headrest or head restraint.

2.5.	Attach and tighten the top tether according to your child restraint instructions.

3. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure.