2003 HONDA ELEMENT Owners Manual

To adjust the height of the driver’s
seat, turn the dial on the outside of
the seat bottom.The driver’s seat has an armrest on
thesideof theseat-back.Touseit,
pivotitdown.On EX models
Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Driver’s Seat Armrest
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols93

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation and a warning about how toproperly position the head restraints. 16
Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions.
The head restraints help protect you
and your passengers f rom whiplash
and other injuries. They are most
ef f ective when you adjust them so
the back of the occupant’s head rests
against the center of the restraint. A
taller person should adjust the
restraint as high as possible. To remove a head restraint f or
cleaning or repair, pull it up as f ar as
it will go. Push the release button,
then pull the restraint out of the seat-
back.
The head restraints adjust f or height.
You need both hands to adjust the
restraint. Do not attempt to adjust it
while driving. To raise it, pull upward.
To lower the restraint, push the
release button sideways, and push
the restraint down.
Head Restraints
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols94
RELEASE BUTTON

Although your vehicle has rear doors,
the rear seat passengers can get out
of the vehicle f rom the open f ront
passenger’s door. Push down on the
release lever at the base of the front
passenger’s seat-back, and push the
seat-back forward. The seat-back will
tilt f orward and the entire seat will
move forward to allow easier exit
through the f ront door.After you return the seat cushion to
the desired position, pull the seat-
back upright until it latches. Make
sure the seat is f ully latched bef ore
sitting in it.
Rear Seat Access
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols95
RELEASE LEVER

µ
See pages f or important saf ety
inf ormation and warnings about how toproperly position seats and seat-backs. 13 15
Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
The seat-back angle of each rear
seat can be adjusted separately.
To change the seat-back angle, pull
the strap at the inside edge of the
seat cushion, and move the seat-back
to the desired position, then release
the strap. Make sure the seat-back
latches in the new position.
Rear Seat-back Adjustment
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols96
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP

Remove the head restraints f rom
the f ront seats (see page ).
You can recline the seat-backs on the
f ront seats to a f ully f lat position so
they are level with the rear seat
cushions, making a large cushioned
area.Todothis: Store the head restraints in the
side pockets of the cargo area.
1.
94
CONT INUED
Reclining the Front Seats
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols97

Adjust the f ront seats f orward as
f ar as they will go. Pull up the seat-
back angle adjustment lever and
pivot the seat-back backward.
Release the lever when the seat-
back is level with the rear seat
cushion.Move the f ront seat backward
until it touches the rear seat.
Adjust the rear seat-back to the
desired position.
Reverse this procedure to return the
f ront and rear seats to the upright
position. Make sure you install the
head restraints and the seats are
locked securely bef ore driving.
When you return the seat-back to
the upright position, hold the seat-
back to keep it f rom going up too
quickly.
2.
3.4.
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols98
SLIDE BAR SEAT-BACK ANGLE
ADJUSTMENT LEVER

To create more cargo space, you can
fold up each rear seat to each side
wall separately.Lower the head restraint to its
lowest position.
Pull the seat-back adjustment
strap at the inside edge of the seat
cushion and push the seat-back
backward as f ar as it will go.Pull the release strap on the seat
support, and pivot the seat toward
the vehicle’s side wall.
1.
2.3.
CONT INUED
Folding the Rear Seats
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols99
SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT STRAP RELEASE STRAP

Fold down the seat support.
A fastening strap is attached to the
inside of the seat cushion. While
pushing the seat up and toward
thesidewall,hookthefastening
straptothegrabrail. Reverse this procedure to return the
rear seat to the upright position.
When not in use, store the fastening
strap hook in the f abric pocket on
the bottom of the seat cushion.
Make sure the seat is locked
securely.
4. 5.
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols100
GRAB RAIL
FASTENING STRAP SEAT SUPPORT