Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual
Child RestraintsSeats andRestraints / Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle safety belts.
The manufacturer instructions that come with the booster seat state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the fit test below:
• Sit all the way back on the seat.
Do the knees bend at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster
seat.
• Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.
Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue.
If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide.
If the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the
booster seat.
• Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
• Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for the length of the trip? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A: 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.
This applies belt force to the child's pelvic bones in a crash.
It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position.
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.
WARNING
Never allow more than one child to wear the same safety belt. The safety belt cannot properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, they can be crushed together and seriously injured. A safety belt must be used by only one person at a time.
WARNING
Never allow a child to wear the safety belt with the shoulder belt behind their back. A child can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt.
The child could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The child might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
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.
WARNING
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.
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. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate child restraints.
Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
WARNING
Never hold an infant or a child while riding in a vehicle. Due to crash forces, an infant or a child will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it during a crash.
For example, in a crash at only 40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb) infant will suddenly become a 110 kg (240 lb) force on a person's
arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint.
WARNING
Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat. Secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. It is also better to secure a forward-facing child restraint in a rear seat. If you must secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go.
Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle 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.
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 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.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of neck and head injury during a crash, infants need complete support. In a crash, if an infant is in a rear-facing child restraint, the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant's body, the back and shoulders. Infants should always be secured in rear-facing child restraints.
WARNING
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. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, young children should always be secured in appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
Rear-Facing Infant Seat
A rear-facing infant seat 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.
Forward-Facing Child Seat
A forward-facing child seat provides restraint for the child's body with the harness.
Booster Seats
A booster seat is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle's safety belt system.
A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.
Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle
WARNING
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Secure the child restraint properly in the vehicle using the vehicle safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that child restraint and 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.
Children 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 the vehicle— even when no child is in it.
In some areas, Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) are available to inspect and demonstrate how to correctly use and install child restraints. In the U.S., refer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to locate the nearest child safety seat inspection station. For CPST availability in Canada, check with Transport Canada or the Provincial Ministry of Transportation office.
Securing the Child within the Child Restraint
WARNING
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Secure the child properly following the instructions that came with that child restraint.
Where to Put the Restraint
According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position.
We recommend that children and child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts.
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.
WARNING
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 it 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.
When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with the child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.
Child restraints and booster seats vary considerably in size, and some may fit in certain seating positions better than others. Always make sure the child restraint is properly secured.
Depending on where you place the child restraint and the size of the child restraint, you may not be able to access adjacent safety belt assemblies or LATCH anchors for additional passengers or child restraints. Adjacent seating positions should not be used if the child restraint prevents access to or interferes with the routing of the safety belt.
Wherever a child restraint is installed, 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 System)
The LATCH system secures a child restraint during driving or in a crash.
LATCH attachments on the child restraint are used to attach the child restraint to anchors in the vehicle.
This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier.
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 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 (1) 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 (2).
Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (3, 4) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle.
A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (2) 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 (3) or a dual tether (4).
Either will have a single attachment (2) 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.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations
Rear Seat
(Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions
(Lower Anchor): Seating positions
The rear outboard seating positions have exposed metal anchors in the crease between the seatback and the seat cushion.
To assist in locating the top tether anchors, the top tether anchor symbol is near the top tether anchors.
Top Tether Anchors
The top tether anchors for each rear seating position are on the back of the rear seatback. The rear compartment storage panel/cover might need to be adjusted to access the anchors. Be sure to use an anchor on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.
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.
According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System
WARNING
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 safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with the child restraint and the instructions in this manual.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
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 the 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.
Do not fold the empty rear seat with a safety belt buckled. This could damage the safety belt or the seat. Unbuckle and return the safety belt to its stowed position, before folding the seat.
If you need to secure more than one child restraint in the rear seat
This system is designed to make installation of child restraints easier.
When using lower anchors, do not use the vehicle's safety belts.
Instead, use the vehicle's anchors and child restraint attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top tether.
1. 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 the child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions
in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint to the lower
anchors.
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. Route, attach and tighten the top tether according to your child restraint
instructions and the following instructions:
• If the position being used does not have a head restraint and a single tether is being used, route the tether over the seatback.
• If the position being used does not have a head restraint and a dual tether is being used, route the tether over the seatback.
• If the position being used has a fixed head restraint and a dual tether is being used, route the tether around the head restraint.
• If the position being used has a fixed head restraint and a single tether is being used, route the tether over the head restraint.
3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the LATCH path and attempt to move it side to side and back and forth. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement, for proper installation.
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash
WARNING
A crash can damage the LATCH system in the vehicle. A damaged LATCH system may not properly secure the child restraint, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure the LATCH system is working properly after a crash, see your dealer to have the system inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system and it was being used during a crash, new LATCH system parts may be needed.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the LATCH system was not being used at the time of the crash.
Securing Child Restraints (Front Passenger Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger sensing system which is designed to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions.
A label on the 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.
WARNING
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 it 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.
If the child restraint has the LATCH system. If a child restraint is secured using a safety belt and it uses a top tether
Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Follow the instructions that came with the child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger frontal
airbag and seat‐mounted side impact airbag, the off indicator on the passenger airbag
status indicator should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle's
safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will
show you how.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on the buckle, so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
5. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. When the retractor lock is set, the belt can be tightened but not pulled out of the retractor.
6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked. If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 5 and 6.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat and the child restraint has a top tether,
follow the child restraint manufacturer's instructions regarding the use of the
top tether.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held
in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the safety belt path and attempt
to move it side to side and back and forth. When the child restraint is properly
installed, there should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
If the airbags are off, the off indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator will come on and stay on when the vehicle is started.
If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat)
When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with the child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle.
If the child restraint has the LATCH system. If a child restraint is secured in the vehicle using a safety belt and it uses a top tether.
Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached.
If the child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the safety belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.
If more than one child restraint needs to be installed in the rear seat.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle's
safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will
show you how.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
4. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. When the retractor lock is set, the belt can be tightened but not pulled out of the retractor.
5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is locked.
If the retractor is not locked, repeat Steps 4 and 5.
6. If the child restraint has a top tether, follow the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions regarding the use of the top tether.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held
in place. To check, grasp the child restraint at the safety belt path and attempt
to move it side to side and back and forth. When the child restraint is properly
installed, there should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.
Armrest Retaining Strap
WARNING
A rear center armrest that is not properly stowed and secured could fall forward during a sudden stop or collision. The armrest could contact an infant secured in a rear‐facing child restraint in the center seat position. Fasten the retaining strap onto the stowed armrest before installing a rearfacing child restraint in the rear center seat position.
When new, the vehicle's glove box materials included an armrest retaining strap. Use it to secure the center armrest before installing a rear-facing child restraint in the second row center seat position.
Stow the rear seat center armrest.
Attach the retaining strap to the armrest loop (1) and to the center top tether anchor on the seatback (2). Make sure the retaining strap's clips are firmly attached.
Install the rear-facing child restraint using the child restraint manufacturer's instructions and the instructions described previously.
Remove the armrest retaining strap before installing a forward facing child restraint in the center seat position, as it may interfere with the attachment of the top tether to the top tether anchor on the seatback.
