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{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any
airbag when it in ates can be seriously injured
or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
the best protection for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety
belt system nor its airbag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide. Always secure children properly in
your vehicle. To read how, seeOlder Children
on page 1-47orInfants and Young Children
on page 1-50.
There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-38
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
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The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact airbag
is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
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Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact airbag.
SeeAirbag System on page 1-74. Side impact airbags
are intended to in ate in moderate to severe side
crashes. A side impact airbag will in ate if the crash
severity is above the system’s designed “threshold
level.” The threshold level can vary with speci c
vehicle design. Side impact airbags are not intended
to in ate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers
or rear impacts. A side impact airbag is intended
to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have in ated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair
costs were. For frontal airbags, in ation is determined
by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact,
and how quickly the vehicle slows down. For side
impact airbags, in ation is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough
terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. SeeOff-Road
Driving on page 4-16for tips on off-road driving.What Makes an Airbag In ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash.
The sensing system triggers a release of gas from
the in ator, which in ates the airbag. The in ator,
the airbag and related hardware are all part of the
airbag modules. Frontal airbag modules are located
inside the steering wheel and instrument panel.
For seating positions with side impact airbags, there
are also airbag modules in the side of the seatbacks
closest to the door.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the
inside of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the
protection provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually.
But the frontal airbags would not help you in many
types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts,
and many side impacts, primarily because an
occupant’s motion is not toward the airbag.
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Side impact airbags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including many frontal or near frontal
collisions, and rear impacts, primarily because an
occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags. Airbags
should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the frontal
airbags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions
for vehicles with a side impact airbag.
What Will You See After an
Airbag In ates?
After the airbag in ates, it quickly de ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
in ated. Some components of the airbag module may
be hot for a short time. These components include
the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag and
the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag. For seating positions with side impact
airbags, the side of the seatback closest to the door may
be hot. The parts of the airbag that come into contact
with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.There will be some smoke and dust coming from the
vents in the de ated airbags. Airbag in ation does
not prevent the driver from seeing out of the windshield
or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop
people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag in ates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing problems
but cannot get out of the vehicle after an
airbag in ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
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If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.
If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to
place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit
upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the
person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle
and have the person remain in this position for about
two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that
person and then enable the passenger’s airbag.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-38for more on this, including
important safety information.
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Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in
a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, or
an airbag covering (if equipped) on a seatback, the
airbag may not work properly. You may have to
replace the airbag module in the steering wheel,
both the airbag module and the instrument panel for
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, or both
the airbag module and the seatback for seating
positions with a side impact airbag (if equipped).
Do not open or break the airbag coverings.
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The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to
open the rear door while the security lock is engaged,
unlock the door and open the door from the outside.
Lockout Protection
This feature protects you from locking your key in the
vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door is open.
If the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open
and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock
and then the driver’s door will unlock.
Liftgate
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate
glass, liftgate or rear doors open because
carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your
vehicle. You cannot see or smell CO. It can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you must drive with the liftgate glass,
liftgate, or rear doors open, or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and the
liftgate glass, liftgate, or rear doors:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the
recirculation mode off. That will force
outside air into your vehicle. SeeClimate
Control System on page 3-22.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-35.
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Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may be equipped with a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
The security light
is located on the
instrument panel
cluster. SeeSecurity
Light on page 3-49for
additional information.
To activate the theft-deterrent system, do the following:
1. Close all the doors.
2. Lock the door with the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The security light should come
on and ash.If the lock button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter is pressed, but a door is open, you may
hear three chimes indicating delayed locking is
enabled. SeeDelayed Locking on page 2-10for
additional information. Close the door and the
content theft-deterrent system will be activated.
If a locked door is opened without using the remote
keyless entry transmitter or OnStar, if equipped with
an active subscription, the alarm will go off. Your
vehicle’s lamps will ash and the horn will sound for
about two minutes, then will turn off to save the battery
power. If this occurs, you can turn off the alarm by
pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter
or by placing the key in the ignition and turning it
to START.
If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC),
you can customize your alarm warning. SeeDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-67for additional information.
The horn may chirp for 10 seconds before the alarm
goes off if the theft-deterrent system is activated using
the remote keyless entry transmitter and the driver’s
door is opened. If this occurs, you can turn off the
alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry
transmitter or by placing the key in the ignition and
turning it to START.
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