LATCH weight limit?

[Cat n Bull]

I can not find what the LATCH weight limit is for our new 2012 sonata hybrid?

Also, does anyone know if Hyundai allows for LATCH installs in the center seat?

Thanks!

also, this is probably so obvious but I am missing it: what does YF stand for in this forum title??

[jglopic]

From the owner's manual (p. 3-34):
"LATCH anchors have been provided in your vehicle. The LATCH anchors are located in the left and right outboard rear seating positions. Their locations are shown in the illustration. There is no LATCH anchor provided for the center rear seating position."

I don't see a LATCH weight limit published publically for Hyundai. However, the standard minimum weight cut-off is at 40 lbs (weight of child, not including the seat). The official NHTSA standard is apparently 65 lb including the weight of the seat. I foundone site that recommends 48 lbs as the cut-off for the weight of the child (justmommies.com).

And the YF is the model generation code which Hyundai uses. (The previous generation of the Sonata was NF). It is similar to the "E" codes which BMW uses in the development of each of their vehicle generations.

[Cat n Bull]

Thanks for your reply!

I hate not having an accurate weight limit! I will contact the dealer and see if they can find it.

I'll have to ask what Hyundai's stance is on the center install also. Some auto manufacturers allow you to use the 2 inner latch anchors for a center install and some don't. We are in the process of looking for a new carseat and I like to have as much info as I can get before making a decision.

I HATE installing a carseat on the outside seats in such a small car!

[jglopic]

Originally Posted by Cat n Bull

Thanks for your reply!

I hate not having an accurate weight limit! I will contact the dealer and see if they can find it.

I'll have to ask what Hyundai's stance is on the center install also. Some auto manufacturers allow you to use the 2 inner latch anchors for a center install and some don't. We are in the process of looking for a new carseat and I like to have as much info as I can get before making a decision.

I HATE installing a carseat on the outside seats in such a small car!

As I mentioned before, the owner's manual can be a wealth of knowledge. From page 3-34 (again):

"WARNING - LATCH lower anchors
LATCH lower anchors are only to be used with the left and right rear outboard seating positions. Never attempt to attach a LATCH equipped seat in the center seating position. You may damage the anchors or the anchors may fail and break in a collision."

[Cat n Bull]

Originally Posted by jglopic

As I mentioned before, the owner's manual can be a wealth of knowledge. From page 3-34 (again):

Thanks for posting that. I have finally broken out the owner's manual and saw this. I am NOT very pleased with it, it is something I hope Hyundai will change in future vehicles, especially the small ones!

I would still like an accurate weight limit. There are lots of car seat options, it is best to have accurate numbers when trying to make a decision.

[blazeman]

There are plenty of parents on these forums We've had 4 different car seats this year (accident in January paid for the latest ones... minor accident... but I wasn't taking any chances). I'm guessing we could all help with seat choices too

You have a little one on the way or just getting new seats?

[Cat n Bull]

Originally Posted by blazeman

There are plenty of parents on these forums We've had 4 different car seats this year (accident in January paid for the latest ones... minor accident... but I wasn't taking any chances). I'm guessing we could all help with seat choices too

You have a little one on the way or just getting new seats?

It's for our grandson. He is just about at the seated shoulder height limit of his old seat. He is still young (2 1/2) to be forward facing in a booster seat but not much we can do since he has such a long torso!

Some of the new forward facing only/booster seats do have the LATCH buckles, but LATCH has a weight limit. The seats say to "check with your auto manufacturer" for LATCH limits. Grrr.....

[cpst]

Just do a seat belt install in the center seat for the carseat. Make sure the seat belt is locked and the seat doesn't move more than 1" at the beltpath. There are plenty of large budget friendly carseats that would fit a 2.5 year old. Go to car-seat.org and ask for suggestions.

[Cat n Bull]

Originally Posted by cpst

Just do a seat belt install in the center seat for the carseat. Make sure the seat belt is locked and the seat doesn't move more than 1" at the beltpath. There are plenty of large budget friendly carseats that would fit a 2.5 year old. Go to car-seat.org and ask for suggestions.

I still want to know what the options are and what the limit is. This should not be so difficult to find out. My husband called Hyundai directly and was told to check the US government's highway safety website! That is not acceptable to me that the freakin manufacturer has no idea what the weight limits are for their OWN latches! And the gov. site says to check with your auto manufacturer for the vehicles latch weight limits.

They are supposed to get back to us when they find out. At this point it is the principle more than anything else that I find extremely irritating. They put latches in vehicles for a reason, ALL new vehicles have to have them because they provide a SECURE safe install for a rear facing carseat.

Now some newer forward only seats have them also. I am not interested in a budget friendly car seat. I would like the manufacturer of the car I just bought to have this information available!

[cpst]

I mentioned the seat because you said with his long torso there is not much you can do. There are plenty of seats for children with long torsos.

ALL harnessed car seats, rear facing or forward facing, have LATCH. Seat belt and LATCH are equally safe. If the weight limit is 40lb you will have to do a seat belt install anyway. I don't have a LATCH manual handy so I can't answer but it is not uncommon for a auto manufacturer to defer to the car seat LATCH weight limit.

You are going to have much better luck on a car seat forum to find out the LATCH limits. You will need to find someone with a LATCH manual, a manual that has all vehicle and car seat LATCH limits.

A quick search brings up this thread Latch Weight Limit - Hyundai - Car Seat Questions - BabyCenter