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Honda Odyssey Top Tether and LATCH Information:
- 1995-1997: Specific Details Unknown, Please consult owners manual,
dealer or Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
- 1998: 2x 8mm threaded weld nuts in lower rear trim panel for 3rd row.
3x 8mm threaded weld nuts under U-slit of floor carpet for 2nd row.
- 1999: 2x 8mm threaded weld nuts in lower rear trim panel for 2nd or
3rd row use.
- 2000: 2x anchors under each 2nd row captains chair on frame (See Photo
Album). 3x 8mm threaded weld nuts in tailgate sill.
- 2001: 2x anchors (LATCH) under each 2nd row captains chair on frame (See Photo
Album). 1x pre-installed anchor in center of tailgate sill near floor
(See Photo
Album). 2x 8mm outboard threaded weld nuts for optional anchors (top tether anchors only) in tailgate sill
(See Photo
Album).
- 2002-2004: Appears to be identical to 2001 models.
- 2005: 2x Preinstalled anchor (LATCH) for 2nd row captain's chairs. 1x preinstalled
anchor (LATCH) for center of 3rd row bench. No additional or optional locations for 2005.
- 2006: 2x Preinstalled anchor (LATCH) for 2nd row captain's chairs. 1x preinstalled
anchor (LATCH) for center of 3rd row bench on rear tailgate sill. 2x preinstalled anchors on back of
seat for outboard 3rd row positions (top tether anchors only).
Parts kit: 8mm threaded weld nuts on most Hondas require universal
part #82410-SE3-C01 (357673). Apparently, the 1999-2003 Odyssey may
also now use a new anchor kit, #82410-S84-C00 (626140). Kit is
called "Anchor Plate and Mounting Hardware" and costs approximately $13
Retail, $7 online. Torque to 16 ft-lb (22 N-m). Please verify
these part numbers with your dealer. Consult owners manual or
dealer for more details, as kit may not include instructions. (See Photo
Album)
Installation on tailgate sill takes about 5 minutes. Allow more
time for installation on the rear trim panel or on the floor (may apply to model year 1998 and
earlier). You will need a 12mm (1/2" will work) socket or wrench and the Honda Anchor Plate.
Please do NOT use a generic anchor kit.
LATCH is only available on the 2001 and newer Odyssey models in the 2nd
row captain's chairs. The anchors are located in the bight (crease)
between the seat cushion and seat back (See Photo
Album).
It may be possible to purchase a LATCH-equipped
captain's chair for the 2001 model and put it in a 1999 or 2000 model.
Please contact your dealer or Honda for details.
Photo
Gallery of Tether Anchors, Carseats and LATCH in a 2001
Odyssey
Carseat Installation Tips (1999-2004 models):
- If you are installing in the 2nd row captain's chairs or 3rd row,
recline the back of the seat before you start. In the second row chairs,
you might also move them a notch or two back from where you want them to
be.
- The Odyssey is equipped with switchable locking retractor
seat belts. To use this feature, pull the seatbelt all the way out. Now,
the seatbelt will lock as it retracts. Put your weight on the carseat and
rock it a bit as you feed the slack back into the retractor. Make
sure to pull tightly so you take up all the slack on the lap belt,
too. When it is tight, it should remain locked. With a few car seats,
this may cause a tilt since the shoulder belt may pull one side of the
carseat upward. A slight tilt is OK, but if the tilt is so great that it
lifts more than 20% of the base of the carseat off the vehicle seat,
then you may need to use a locking clip instead of the locking
seat belt retractor. If this is the case, you may need to consult the
owners manual for your carseat, a local carseat technician or our
forums at Car-Seat.Org.
- 2001 and newer models have LATCH compatibility. This
system replaces the seatbelts for installation. While it is not
necessarily any safer than using the seatbelts, it may be easier and more
convenient. All carseats with LATCH can also be installed with the
seatbelts, so it is suggested that you use whichever method results in a
better fit. In the Odyssey, the LATCH system is integrated into the
captain's chairs. This means you can remove the chairs completely
with the carseat still installed. You will also be able to move the 2nd
row passenger-side captain's chair inboard or outboard while
leaving the carseat installed properly. With LATCH, the seatbelts will
not block access to the third row. Be advised that moving the
2nd row seats forward and backward will affect the tether, so you
will need to adjust its length accordingly.
- When the car seat is as tight as you can get it with the seatbelts or
LATCH, you can then move the back of the vehicle seat to an upright
position to make it even more snug, especially for front-facing carseats.
In the second row, you can now move the seats forward a notch or two if
you are using the seatbelts (won't help with LATCH), and this may help get
it a bit tighter as well. Be sure to check your seats each time in case
someone reclines them or moves them back again.
- The Odyssey has seatbelts that anchor asymmetrically in the 2nd row.
The buckle comes forward somewhat on the seat, while the lap and shoulder
belt anchors are behind the seat. Some carseats may not install properly
with this design. If you have trouble, it is best to seek out a
certified, local technician. Many hospitals, police, fire and public
health departments have one on staff, or please see these resources for free carseat
inspections.
- If you have a Britax infant/convertible seat and intend to use the
Versa-tether while rear-facing, here are some possible methods. Please
note that most other carseats CANNOT use a tether while rear-facing. Some
examples may be seen in the photo gallery linked above. Please note that
these are all suggestions. The forces on a rear-facing tether are much
lower than on a front-facing tether, and therefore the guidelines for
anchor locations are somewhat less restrictive. I have not tried or
verified all of these suggestions. If you have any questions, you should
consult your Britax owner's manual, their online instructions or phone
them directly. Some photos and information on rear-facing use of
the Britax Versa-Tether can be found at this webpage
discussing the Britax Roundabout Tethered Rear-facing.
- In the "Australian" or TRV (Toward the Rear of the Vehicle) method,
you stretch the tether back across the carseat and over the top of the
back of the vehicle seat. In the second row, you would then route it down
the back of the captain's chair to the anchor under the chair. The tether
on my early Roundabout is too short to do this, but the addition of the
Britax connector strap might make it possible as a last resort. In the
third row, you would route it over the back of the magic seat to the
anchors on the tailgate sill.
- In the "Swedish" or TFV (Toward the Front of the Vehicle) method,
there are more options.
- In the second row captain's chairs, you may route the Versa-tether at
an angle to the metal bar (or other suitable structural point) under the
driver's or passenger's chair. This bar is near the front of the chair,
and is a structural part of it. An alternate location might be the bolt
which anchors the driver and passenger seatbelts. You will need to loop
the Britax connector strap around the bolt, and be careful it is between
the pillar and the plastic shell, so that it does not slip up the
seatbelt.
- In the second row captains chairs, you may route the Versa-tether
straight down and to the tether anchor under the captain's chair holding
the carseat. Alternately, you may loop the Britax connector strap around
the metal bar to which the tether anchor is welded, then attach the
Versa-tether hook to the connector on the strap. Be careful to route the strap
under the adjustment bar that moves the captain's chair forward and back.
- In the third row bench, you may use the tether anchors under the
2nd row captain's chairs, provided that they are NOT already being
used by another carseat. You may not use the same anchor for two
carseats. There will also be a heavy anchor in the floor, possibly
under a plastic cover. This is the anchor that holds the
passenger-side captain's chair when it is moved to the other
position. The unused anchor will either be in the center of the
second row, or near the passenger-side sliding door. This anchor is
NOT designed for a front-facing tether, but it is suitable for a
rear-facing tether since the forces are lower and it is a structural
member of the vehicle designed to hold an entire chair.
- The Odyssey owner's manual has a very good section on carseats, with
details on LATCH, tether anchors and the seatbelts. It is highly
recommended reading!
Additional Comments on 2005 and 2006 models:
- Child Restraints CAN be installed in the Plus One seat available on EX and EX-L models.
Many child restraints may be too big for installation in the PlusOne, but if the restraint installs securely
according to guidelines in the instruction manuals, then it should be safe.
- No top tether anchor exists for the Plus One seat. While front facing seats with a 5-point harness may be used
there, it would be safer to put them in a seating position with a top tether anchor available. Narrow boosters and
rear-facing seats may work best in this location. Older kids, teens and adults who aren't too tall for the head restraint can also
be safely seated in the PlusOne 8th seat.
- Britax may no longer recommend using their rear-facing versa tether to locations under the vehicle seat holding the
child restraint. The best spot may be around one of the pillars that supports the folding tray. There is a small hole in the solid metal support that is welded to the base of the front seat. You
can route the Britax supplied D-ring strap through it. This works best for the PlusOne seat or the passenger's side captain's chair moved to the middle position. It also works OK for the outboard
seats, but the tether routing isn't as direct. Other than that, there do not appear to be any ideal anchoring locations under the front seats that meet all the
criteria from Britax. There are locations on the folding tray, front seatbelt buckle stalks and under the seat, but all have compromises such as not
appearing to be very sturdy (thin folding tray diagonal support leg) or requiring a re-adjustment of the tether if the seat is moved (seatbelt buckle stalk).
It is also perfectly acceptable not to use the optional rear-facing tether at all. Unlike front-facing seats, rear-facing seats are very safe, even without the use of a tether.
For rear-facing Britax restraints in the third row, the fixed metal bar under the second row seats provide a good location for anchoring the versa tether.
In all cases, the Britax D-ring strap would need to be cinched around the metal frame or routed through
the seatbelt webbing loop. Do NOT use the D-ring strap for front-facing tethering. Also see: Finding a Good Rear-Facing Tether Point for Honda Odyssey's 2005-Newer.
- Both the second and third row head restraints may be removed if necessary for child restraint installation. If you keep the head restraints in place,
the owner's manual indicates to route the top tether strap under the second row head restraint, between the posts. Third row head restraints should be removed if using the top-tether strap.
- The 2005+ Honda Odyssey may be the safest minivan on the market and certainly one of the safest passenger vehicles on the road, especially among those with third row
seats. The only notable feature omissions are active head restraints and automatic crash notification. Among the standard features included on all models are:
- Side Curtain airbags with rollover deployment and dedicated impact sensors for all three rows of seating
- Side airbags meet voluntary testing guidelines for "Out of Position" passengers
- Vehicle Stability Assist (Stability and Traction control)
- Antilock Brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution System and Brake Assist
- Advanced, dual-threshold front airbags; passenger front airbag has vertical deployment
- Passenger-Side airbags with Occupant Position Detection
- Safety switches for power window operation, child door locks and interior trunk release
- Weight ranging from 4378 lbs (LX) to 4655 lbs (Touring)
- "ACE" front end design for improved vehicle crash compatibility to short and tall vehicles
- Three-point seatbelts and head restraints for all seating positions
- LATCH in three seating positions (Two additional top tether anchors added for 2006 models)
- Quadruple 5-Star NHTSA frontal and side impact crash tests (Safety Concern noted for 2005 models in side impact)
- 4-star rollover rating with a 1.30 Static Stability factor and "No-Tip" dynamic handling test
- "Best Pick" IIHS frontal offset crash test rating and one of the top overall minivans rated by the IIHS
- "Good" rating in IIHS side impact test
- Front and Rear crush zones based on safety-proven chassis shared with the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX
- Class leading performance, handling and braking
- Available features include tire pressure monitoring, runflat tires, auto door locks, backup camera and reverse object sensing
- The Odyssey owner's manual has a very good section on carseats, with
details on LATCH, tether anchors and the seatbelts. Please consult the manual for further details.
More Information on
LATCH and Tethers
Honda Odyssey Safety - The Official Honda Web Site
Links to Odyssey and Minivan Safety Information:
