Folding the Rear Seat

The rear seatbacks can be folded down to carry long items or to increase cargo capacity.

WARNING

• Never allow passengers to sit on a folded seatback while the vehicle is moving, as it is not a seat and the seat belt cannot be used properly in this case. This may result in death or serious injury in the event of an accident or sudden stop.
• The height of items carried on the folded seatback must not be higher than the front seats. Otherwise, the load may slide forward and injure passengers during sudden braking.

To fold the rear seatback:

1. Set the front seatback to the upright position and, if necessary, move the front seat forward.

2. Lower the rear head restraints fully.

3. Insert the rear seat belt/shoulder belt plate into the bracket on the side trim. This prevents interference with the seatback when folding.

4. Pull the rear seat release lever on both sides and fold the seatback slightly forward.

To use the rear seat, lift the seatback and move it forward. Push the seatback firmly rearward until it locks into place. Make sure the seatback is locked.

When returning the rear seats to the upright position, remember to return the rear seat belts to their proper position.

Intelligent

If you cannot release the seat belt from the retractor, pull the belt firmly and then release it. Then you should be able to release the belt smoothly.

WARNING

When you raise the rear seatback after folding it:

Be careful not to damage the seat belt webbing or buckle. Be careful not to trap or pinch the belt or buckle in the rear seat. Make sure the seatback is securely locked upright by pressing on its upper part. If this is not done, in the event of an accident or sudden stop the seat may fold forward and cargo may enter the cabin, which may result in serious injury or death.

NOTICE

• When you return the rear seats to the upright position, remember to return the rear seat belts to their proper position.
• To prevent the seat belt webbing from being pinched behind or under the seats, route it through the seat belt guides.

WARNING

It is recommended that items loaded in the luggage compartment be securely fastened so that they are not thrown into the vehicle interior in the event of a collision and so that vehicle occupants are not injured. Do not place items on the rear seats, as they cannot be properly secured and may strike the front seat occupants in a collision.

WARNING

Make sure the engine is off, the automatic transmission is in P (Park), or the manual transmission is in first gear, and the parking brake is properly applied when loading or unloading items. If you do not follow these recommendations, the vehicle may move if the shift lever is accidentally in another position. Refer to Vehicle safety features.