Child Restraint System (CRS) Installation

After selecting a suitable child restraint for your child, check whether it fits properly in your vehicle. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing the child seat. Observe these general steps when installing the seat in your vehicle:

• Secure the child restraint properly in the vehicle. All child restraints must be secured to the vehicle using the lap portion of the lap/shoulder seat belt or the LATCH system.
• Make sure the child restraint is securely installed. After installing the child restraint, push and pull the seat forward and from side to side to make sure it is firmly attached to the vehicle seat. A child restraint secured with the seat belt must be installed as tightly as possible. However, some side-to-side movement can be expected.
• Secure the child in the child restraint. Make sure the child is properly restrained in the child restraint according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) System

The LATCH system secures the child restraint during driving and in a collision. This system is designed to make child restraint installation easier and reduce the possibility of incorrect installation. LATCH uses anchorages in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint. LATCH eliminates the need to use the seat belts to secure the child restraint in the rear seat.

The lower anchors are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position, on which a child restraint with lower attachments can be installed.

To use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you must have a child restraint with LATCH attachments.

The child seat manufacturer will provide instructions for using the child seat with LATCH lower attachments.

LATCH anchors are provided in the left and right rear seating positions. Their locations are shown in the illustration. LATCH anchors are not provided for the center rear seating position.

WARNING - LATCH Lower Anchors

Never attempt to attach a LATCH seat to the center position. LATCH lower anchors must be used only at the left and right rear seat positions. You may damage the anchors, or the anchors may fail and break in a collision.

The lower anchor indicator symbols are located on the left and right sides of the rear seat backrest, to identify the position of the lower anchors in your vehicle (see arrows in the illustration).

The LATCH anchors are located between the seatback and the seat cushion of the rear seat left and right outboard seating positions.

To use a lower anchor, press on the top of the lower anchor cover.

Child Restraint Installation Using LATCH Anchors

To install a LATCH-compatible child restraint in either of the rear outboard seating positions:

1. Pull the seat belt buckle away from the lower anchors.

2. Move any objects away from the anchors that could prevent a secure connection between the child restraint and the lower anchors.

3. Place the child restraint on the vehicle seat, then attach the lower anchor connectors of the child restraint to the lower anchors in accordance with the child restraint manufacturer's instructions.

4. Follow the child restraint instructions to properly adjust and tighten the lower attachments of the child restraint to the lower anchors.

WARNING

When using the LATCH system, observe the following precautions:

• Read and follow all installation instructions provided with your child restraint system.
• To prevent a child from reaching an unused seat and grabbing the seat belts, secure all unused rear seat belts before placing the child in the vehicle. Lock each unused seat belt by following the instructions in the "Automatic Locking Retractor" section and place the buckle behind the child seat or against the unused seatback. A child may be strangled if the shoulder belt wraps around the neck and the belt tightens. • NEVER attach more than one child restraint to a single anchor. This may cause the anchor or attachment hardware to loosen or break.
• Always have the LATCH system inspected by an authorized Kia dealer after an accident. An accident may damage the LATCH system and cause improper installation of the child restraint.

Child Restraint Installation Using the Tether Anchor

First secure the child restraint with the LATCH lower anchors or the seat belt. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends using the top tether, attach and tighten the top tether strap to the tether anchor.

The tether anchor hooks for child restraints are located on the back of the rear seatbacks.

WARNING

When installing the tether strap, observe the following precautions:

• Read and follow all installation instructions provided with your child restraint system.
• NEVER attach more than one child restraint to a single tether anchor. This may loosen or break the anchor or attachment.
• Do not attach the tether strap to anything other than the proper tether anchor. It may not function properly if connected to something else.
• Do not use tether anchors for adult seat belts or tether straps, or to attach other objects or equipment to the vehicle.
• Always buckle the seat belts behind the child restraint when they are not being used to secure the child seat. Failure to do so may result in the child being strangled.

To install the tether anchor:

1. Route the child restraint tether strap over the seatback of the child restraint. Pass the tether strap under the head restraint and between the head restraint posts, or route the tether strap over the top of the vehicle seatback. Make sure the strap is not twisted.

2. Attach the tether hook to the tether anchor, then tighten the tether strap in accordance with the child restraint manufacturer's instructions to securely fasten the child restraint to the seat.

3. Make sure the child restraint is securely attached to the seat by pushing and pulling the seat forward and from side to side.

Child Restraint Installation Using the Lap/Shoulder Belt

If the LATCH system is not used, all child restraints must be secured to the rear seat using the lap portion of the lap/shoulder seat belt.

Automatic Locking Mode

Under normal conditions, all passenger seat belts retract freely and lock only in extreme or emergency conditions (emergency locking mode). Pull the seat belt webbing fully out by hand to set the retractor to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode to secure the child restraint.

The Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode helps prevent normal movement of the child in the vehicle, which could cause the seat belt to loosen and damage the child restraint system. To secure the child restraint system, use the following procedure.

To install a child restraint on a rear seat, follow these steps:

1. Place the child restraint on the rear seat and route the seat belt around or through the child restraint in accordance with the restraint manufacturer's instructions. Make sure the seat belt webbing is not twisted.

2. Fasten the lap/shoulder belt latch into the buckle. Listen for a distinct "click".

Position the release button so that it is easily accessible in an emergency.

3. Pull the shoulder portion of the seat belt fully out. When the shoulder portion of the seat belt is fully extended, the retractor will move to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode (child restraint).

4. Slowly allow the shoulder portion of the seat belt to retract and listen for an audible "click" or "ratcheting" sound. This indicates that the retractor is in the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode. If no distinct sound is heard, repeat steps 3 and 4.

5. Remove as much slack from the belt as possible by pressing down on the child restraint system while guiding the shoulder belt back into the retractor.

6. Push and pull the child restraint to make sure the seat belt holds it securely in place. If it does not, unbuckle the seat belt and repeat steps 2 through 6.

7. Check twice that the retractor is in the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode by trying to pull out the seat belt from the retractor. If you cannot, the retractor is in the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.

If the child restraint manufacturer specifies or recommends using a tether anchorage with the lap/shoulder belt, refer to the previous pages for additional information.

✽ NOTICE

When the seat belt is fully retracted, the retractor automatically switches from Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode to the emergency locking mode for normal use by adults.

WARNING! Automatic Locking Mode

Set the retractor to automatic locking mode when installing any child restraint system. If the retractor is not in automatic locking mode, the child restraint may move when your vehicle turns sharply or stops.

To remove the child restraint, press the release button on the buckle, then pull the lap/shoulder belt out of the restraint and allow the seat belt to retract fully.