Kia Sorento: Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH) system. Securing a child restraint system (CRS) with the LATCH anchors system

Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH) system

The LATCH system holds a Child Restraint System securely in the vehicle without requiring the use of standard adult seat belts. This standardized anchoring system simplifies installation and substantially reduces the possibility of incorrect mounting. The LATCH system utilizes specialized rigid anchors embedded in the vehicle structure paired with attachment connectors on the child seat.

Lower anchors consist of durable steel bars built directly into the seat frame. Two lower anchor points are provided for each designated LATCH seating location to accommodate child seats with LATCH connectors.

To utilize the LATCH anchoring system in your Kia Sorento, your Child Restraint System must be equipped with compatible lower LATCH hook or flexible strap attachments.

Refer to the manual provided by your child seat manufacturer for specific step-by-step instructions on connecting and tightening the seat attachments onto the vehicle LATCH lower anchors.

Dedicated LATCH lower anchor bars are located in the left and right outboard rear seating positions of your Kia Sorento, as illustrated in the reference diagram. Please note that no LATCH lower anchors are provided for the center rear seating position.

WARNING

LATCH lower anchors

Never attempt to attach a LATCH-equipped child seat to the center rear seating position using the outboard anchors. LATCH lower anchors are engineered strictly for use in the designated left and right outboard rear seating positions. Attaching a seat to the center using outboard anchors can deform the anchor bars or cause them to break during a severe collision.

Indicator symbols marking lower anchor locations are stamped directly on the rear seatback upholstery to help you identify the precise physical position of the anchor bars in your vehicle (indicated by arrows in the diagram).

Lower anchor position indicator symbol Steel lower anchor bar

The lower LATCH anchors are positioned directly in the crease between the rear seatback and the bottom seat cushion in both the left and right outboard seating positions of your Kia Sorento.

Securing a child restraint system (CRS) with the LATCH anchors system

To properly install a LATCH-compatible Child Restraint System in either of the rear outboard seating positions of your Kia Sorento:

1. Move the standard vehicle seat belt buckle completely away from the lower LATCH anchors. If caught underneath, the rigid lower anchor hook can crush or damage the belt webbing and buckle latch mechanism, rendering the adult seat belt unusable or unsafe.
2. Clear away any foreign objects, floor mats, or seat covers that might impede a direct, secure connection between the child seat attachments and the metal lower anchor bars.
3. Place the Child Restraint System flat against the rear seat cushion, then attach the lower connectors to the lower anchor bars following the exact mounting procedure provided by the child seat manufacturer.
4. Follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions for properly adjusting, ratcheting, and tightening the lower anchor straps or rigid connectors until the seat is firmly anchored.

   WARNING

   Take the following vital precautions when using the LATCH system in your vehicle:

   • Carefully read and strictly follow all vehicle mounting guidelines and child seat instructions provided with your Child Restraint System.

   • To prevent a child from reaching out and playing with unused seat belts, buckle all unused rear seat belts before securing the child in the vehicle. Lock each unused seat belt by pulling the shoulder webbing all the way out to engage the automatic locking retractor (ALR) mode, then route the tight webbing behind the installed child seat or against an unused seatback. Unchecked shoulder belts pose a severe strangulation hazard if wrapped around a child’s neck.

   • NEVER attach more than one Child Restraint System to a single lower anchor bar. Overloading a single anchor point can cause the steel bar or latch hook to bend, loosen, or fracture during an impact.

   • Always have the entire LATCH anchoring assembly inspected by an authorized Kia dealer following any collision. Crash forces can deform the underlying anchor structural welds, compromising future child seat safety.

   NOTE

   The maximum recommended total weight capacity for securing a child seat via the LATCH anchor system is 65 lb (30 kg). When selecting a child restraint for your Kia Sorento, ensure that the combined weight of your child plus the child safety seat itself does not exceed this 65 lb (30 kg) safety threshold.

   Use the following standard formula as a guide to determine the maximum allowable weight of the child restraint system:

   Maximum CRS Weight = 65 lb - (child’s actual weight in lb)

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