After conversations with Honda Motor Corporation we found that the 2017 Honda CR-V is really a 4-passenger instead of 5-passenger vehicle. Evidently this design was intentional. If you already have, or are shopping for a 2017 Honda CR-V, be aware that the rear seat belt buckle is fixed next to the center seat anchor buckle, making it nearly impossible to properly buckle 3-passengers in the back seat. Essentially it becomes a 2-seater vehicle in the back seat. | The 2017 Honda CR-V has the vehicle seat belt anchors switched in a way making it difficult to properly seat 3-passengers in the back seat. |
- The existing design configuration seems to conflict with the owner’s manual. Whereas it specifically indicates that the belt must not catch on anything, which is does catch on the left side seat belt.
- The existing configuration in the vehicle is also different than what is described by the image in the owner’s manual. In that the existing configuration has the left rear-passenger seat belt buckle fixed next to the center-position side buckle, but are located on opposite sides. Causing the belts to cross over and catch on each other. In the owner's manual, the image illustrated these are on opposite sides as well, however in the owner's manual image the center buckle is also fixed at a 45-degree angle, allowing the center belt to buckle over the left passenger seat belt without it catching on any other seat belt. It is unclear if this was done intentionally or if a manufacturer defect.
What does the owner's manual recommend?
1. SEAT BELT TO BE NOT CAUGHT ON ANYTHING According to the owners manual, it specifically indicates to “Make sure that the belt is not twisted or caught on anything.” (See page-10 of the 2017 Honda CR-V owner's manual). However when the “Small latch plate” is fastened onto the “Anchor buckle”, the seat belt is caught on the left rear-passenger belt, when both are being used, as shown in this image. |
The owner's manual (See page-11 of the 2017 Honda CR-V owner's manual) has a image significantly different from that of what is in the vehicle, as shown in these images.
Be aware of this design
This image is a photo of the existing 2017 Honda CR-V configuration of the center Anchor buckle and left passenger seat belt buckle. This illustrates how these are located on the opposite side making the vehicle seat belts catching on each other. Of which the Owner’s manual clearly specified to not have “anything catch” on the seat belt. | Image has been photo edited to illustrate how if existing center Anchor buckle and left passenger seat belt buckle were configured, then the back seat of the 2017 Honda CR-V could seat 3 passengers while buckled properly. |