Is Top Tether required by law?

[prescottchels]

I live in AZ and someone on a forum, I think, told me that top tethers are required in all vehicles or for all FF seats or something like that. Is that true??
I searched 2 pages on car seat laws for AZ and they're pretty vague and don't mention LATCH or Top Tether at all.
I know tethers are highly recommended for safety. I just want to make sure I'm clear on the actual laws.
Any AZ techs out there that know all the ins and outs?
Thanks so much!
Chelsie :) (future mama doin her homework)

[Qarin]

There are federal requirements that seats be equipped with tethers (and LATCH, since late 2002), and that cars be equipped with tether anchors (and LATCH, since late 2002). I don't think there are any states in the US which require the use of the top tether- much or all of Canada does, I believe, require the top tether be used (and that vehicle manufaturers retrofit older cars with tether anchors).

[Maedze]

While not required by law in the US, the tether is strongly strongly strongly recommended for use in all FF seats! If you let us know the car you are having an issue with, we can tell you how to get the top tether retrofitted :)

[LISmama810]

Also, if your state has a "proper use" clause--i.e., saying that a child must be "properly restrained" or a seat must be "properly used"--and the manufacturer instructions require a tether, then technically it would be illegal not to use it. I don't know if Arizona has such a clause.

[Qarin]

Also, if your state has a "proper use" clause--i.e., saying that a child must be "properly restrained" or a seat must be "properly used"--and the manufacturer instructions require a tether, then technically it would be illegal not to use it. I don't know if Arizona has such a clause.

Vanishingly few seats require the use of the top tether.

[joolsplus3]

It's true, the vanishing few include the Regent from 50 pounds and up, and the Frontier from 65 pounds and up, and a few of the special needs seats, none of which I know off the top of my head.

[Maedze]

Roosevelt.

SG Go (but that's sort of a niche product)

And in some scenarios, the RSTV must have a TT, but it's also a niche product

[LISmama810]

Right, few seatbelt installations require the top tether (though two of the most recommended seats here do, after a certain point). I was thinking more along the lines of people choosing not to use a top tether with a LATCH installation, which nearly always would violate manufacturer instructions.

[prescottchels]

Thanks for your responses!
I drive a '98 Jeep Grand Cherokee and am thinking I'll get a truefit.
So I know I don't have LATCH or TT anchors. Do any of you have experience getting this vehicle retrofitted and/or if a truefit works well in it?

Chelsie :-)

[Jeanum]

I can help with the retrofit question. :) Your '98 Grand Cherokee is not factory equipped with lower LATCH anchors or with top tether anchors because it was manufactured before lower LATCH anchors and tether anchors were required factory equipment. While you can't have lower LATCH anchors retrofitted in your car (and this is true of most pre-LATCH vehicles), you can retrofit a top tether anchor for the center rear seating position free of charge according to the LATCH manual at a Jeep dealership service department. The specific Jeep tether anchor part number for the '98 Cherokee is 04728952AB. You'll need to refer the Jeep dealership to Technical Service Bulletin 23-029-08 for details on the free tether anchor retrofit policy, and the dealer can also find additional information in the Warranty Information Center (WIC) in article #1339. Based on the recent experiences of other members who have retrofitted their Jeeps or other retrofittable vehicles with tether anchors, it's good to be very proactive with the dealership, politely indicating you're well aware of the free retrofit policy and expecting it to be honored, and provide the dealership service staffers with the specific part number and bulletin number information listed above to nudge them into action. Good luck. :)

[Maedze]

One top tether anchor can be retrofitted in the center position of that vehicle. The part number is 04728952AB.

Chrysler LLC will install tether anchors in certain older model year Chrysler vehicles free of charge. Please have the dealer refer to Technicial Service Bulletin 23-029-08 for details on the providisions of this policy. The dealer can also find additional information in the Warranty Information Center in article #1339 (see Service Bulletin, page 328)

(from page 236 of the 2009 LATCH Manual)

HTH!

I have actually not tried a True Fit/Jeep combo, so hopefully someone else can comment on compatability. I know the biggest hinderance towards compatability in Jeep vehicles with FF seats is the headrest, but since this is an older model vehicle, it probably doesn't have a head rest in that position, so my guess is there will be no problem :)

[Pixels]

Right, few seatbelt installations require the top tether (though two of the most recommended seats here do, after a certain point). I was thinking more along the lines of people choosing not to use a top tether with a LATCH installation, which nearly always would violate manufacturer instructions.
Not true. No carseat can legally be sold in the US (with a few exceptions of categories like vests or special needs seats) that requires the use of top tether below 50 pounds. FMVSS 213 requires that the seat be tested (among other configurations) with lower anchors only, no top tether AND in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. If the manufacturer required top tether whenever lower anchors were used, it could not be tested, and therefore could not bear FMVSS 213 approval.

Of course, top tethering is a safety device/improvement. I'm not advocating not using the top tether if one is available. I just wanted to clarify the technicalities of what is required.

OP, get your car retrofitted with the top tether, and use it. There's no good reason not to.

[LISmama810]

Not true. No carseat can legally be sold in the US (with a few exceptions of categories like vests or special needs seats) that requires the use of top tether below 50 pounds. FMVSS 213 requires that the seat be tested (among other configurations) with lower anchors only, no top tether AND in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. If the manufacturer required top tether whenever lower anchors were used, it could not be tested, and therefore could not bear FMVSS 213 approval.


Seats are tested with and without top tethers. Whether or not the seat passes testing without the top tether is irrelevant if the manufacturer instructions require its use.

[Pixels]

My point is that it cannot be tested without top tether if the manufacturer requires it. FMVSS specifically states that the manufacturer's instructions must be followed. There is no exception for testing without the top tether even if the instructions require it.

[Jeanum]

While there are FMVSS/LATCH/tethering technicalities that warrant discussion, this has been covered in another thread and perhaps containing that discussion to that single thread elsewhere and not derailing the OP's thread entirely could be taken into consideration here? :o The OP's question about the True Fit's fit in the '98 Grand Cherokee is an open question at this point and possibly being overlooked in the flurry of technical digression. :o Let's sit tight and see if anyone knowledgeable about the True Fit in her Jeep can provide some advice and guidance in that regard. Sometimes it's a bit slow here on weekends, and it may be another day or two before someone in the know sees this and can chime in. :twocents:

[prescottchels]

Thank You Jean for the super specific info I need to take to the dealership, which just so happens to be right down the street from me! And thank you again for swooping in w/gentle nudges to the other posters to stay on track here. I'm really grateful.
I can appreciate the passion with which you all feel about car seats and safety and what not, but I'm pretty new to all these laws & guidelines so it all kinda sounds like a foreign language and goes right over my head.

Someone mentioned the back seat headrests possibly being an issue. There isn't one located in the center, only for the 2 outside seats; however, they are movable up and down as well as removable. Is it advisable to remove them completely if they hinder the proper installation of the seat if it's located in one of the outside seats? So many new things to learn about...
Still would also LOVE to hear from someone who has direct experience with a TrueFit and a Grand Cherokee...
Thanks again,
Chelsie :)

[Pixels]

If the headrests interefere with good installation, then you should remove them. Just make sure you store them somewhere they won't become a projectile, or get lost. On some vehicles, you can turn the headrest around and put it back in to store it.

[prescottchels]

Good to know. Thanks!!

[LISmama810]

Check your vehicle manual to make sure there aren't specific instructions about what to do with the headrest when installing car seats. Some might say to raise it, leave it on, take it off, etc. (Though frankly, if a manual says to leave a headrest on, but it's causing a bad install, you could make the parental decision to remove it.) If the manual doesn't specify either way, it's usually easier just to take it off.

The suggestion of turning the headrest around is no longer recommended. Sometimes the headrest won't click in, meaning that it's still a projectile risk, and other times it locks in too much, meaning that it won't come out again without some major tools and time at a dealership. I don't have specific experience with the Grand Cherokee to know if either of those are issues, though. (I would guess not, but it's something else to keep in mind.)

[Maggie]

I know for a fact that it's OK to remove the headrests in the '98 GC. :) I did it with every seat I've installed. Makes it much easier.