op, did you ever get this resolved?
Better yet, did you figure out how to take them off! I've searched for a couple of hours but nothing that tells me how to remove them. The manual just says they can't be removed. But there has to be way! Love the new '12 model but hate the new restraints. The second row has to be pushed up further to accommodate the new restraints when the third row is down. Our old '08 had the other style which allowed for some huge leg room for the kids in the second row even with the third row down...