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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 42orInfants and Young
Children on page 45.
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 202for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn
off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if:
The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
The system determines that an infant is
present in a rear-facing infant seat.
The system determines that a small child is
present in a child restraint.
The system determines that a small child is
present in a booster seat.
A right front passenger takes his/her weight off
of the seat for a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is occupied by
a smaller person, such as a child who has
outgrown child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.When the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off
indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that
the airbag is off. SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 203.
If a child restraint has been installed and the
on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove
the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall
the child restraint following the child restraint
manufacturer’s directions and refer toSecuring
a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position
on page 67.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to
make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not
pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion.
If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s
seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible.
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Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped
under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,
adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraints
on page 13.
Remove any additional material from the seat
cushion before reinstalling or securing the
child restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in
the child restraint in a rear seat position in
the vehicle, and check with your dealer/retailer.
The passenger sensing system is designed
to enable (may in ate) the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag anytime the system senses that
a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right
front passenger’s seat. When the passenger
sensing system has allowed the airbag to
be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit
to remind you that the airbag is active.For some children who have outgrown child
restraints and for very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag, depending
upon the person’s seating posture and body
build. Everyone in your vehicle who has
outgrown child restraints should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag
for that person.
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 two to three minutes. This will allow the
system to detect that person and then enable the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag.
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Safety belts help keep the passenger in position
on the seat during vehicle maneuvers and
braking, which helps the passenger sensing
system maintain the passenger airbag status.
See “Safety Belts” and “Child Restraints” in
the Index for additional information about the
importance of proper restraint use.
{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 airbag(s). SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 202for more
on this, including important safety
information.
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A thick layer of additional material, such as a
blanket or cushion, or aftermarket equipment such
as seat covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers
can affect how well the passenger sensing
system operates. You may want to consider not
using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment.
SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 89for more information about
modi cations that can affect how the system
operates.
The passenger sensing system may suppress the
airbag deployment when liquid soaks into the
seat. If this happens, the off indicator in the
passenger airbag status indicator and the airbag
readiness light on the instrument panel will be
lit. The system should resume normal operation
after the seat is allowed to dry. If the system
operates incorrectly after the seat has dried,
have your dealer/retailer check the system.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s
seat or between the passenger’s seat
cushion and seatback may interfere with
the proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
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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. SeeCare of Safety Belts on page 439
for more information.
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 airbag,
or the airbag covering on the driver’s and
right front passenger’s seatback (if equipped),
or the side impact airbag covering on the
garnish trim and ceiling near the side windows
(if equipped), 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 airbag, the airbag
module and seatback for the driver’s and
right front passenger’s seat-mounted side
impact airbags (if equipped), or the side
impact airbag module, garnish trim and ceiling
covering for the roof-mounted side impact
airbags (if equipped). Do not open or break
the airbag coverings.
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If your seat adjuster will not work after a crash,
the special part of the safety belt that goes through
the seat to the adjuster may need to be replaced.
If an airbag in ates, you will need to replace
airbag system parts. See the part about the airbag
system earlier in this manual.
If the frontal airbags in ate you will need to
replace the driver’s and right front passengers
safety belt retractor assembly. Be sure to do so.
Then the new retractor assembly will be there
to help protect you in a collision.After a crash you may need to replace the driver
and front passenger’s safety belt retractor
assemblies, even if the frontal airbags have not
deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety
belt retractor assemblies contain the safety belt
pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners
checked if your vehicle has been in a collision,
or if your airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle or while you are driving.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 202.
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The following functions may be available if your
vehicle has the remote keyless entry system:
/(Remote Vehicle Start):If your vehicle has
this feature, the engine may be started from
outside the vehicle using the remote keyless entry
transmitter. See “Remote Vehicle Start” later in
this section for more detailed information.
Q(Lock):Press the lock button to lock all the
doors. The interior lamps will turn off after all of the
doors are closed. If enabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC), the remote lock feedback
can be programmed to have the horn chirp
and/or the parking lamps ash when the remote
keyless entry transmitter is used to lock the
vehicle’s doors. See “LOCK HORN” and “LIGHT
FLASH” underDIC Vehicle Personalization
on page 225for more information.
Pressing the lock button may arm the content
theft-deterrent system. SeeContent
Theft-Deterrent on page 113.
K(Unlock):Press the unlock button to unlock
the driver’s door. If the button is pressed again
within ve seconds, all remaining doors, and the
liftgate will unlock. The interior lamps will turn
on and stay on for 20 seconds or until the ignition
is turned on. If enabled through the DIC, the
remote unlock feedback can be programmed to
have the horn chirp and/or the parking lamps ash
when the remote keyless entry transmitter is
used to unlock the vehicle’s doors. See “UNLOCK
HORN” and “LIGHT FLASH” underDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 225for more information.
If enabled through the DIC, and it is dark
enough outside, the vehicle’s high-beam
headlamps, parking lamps, and back-up lamps
will turn on each time the unlock button on
the transmitter is pressed. These exterior lamps
will stay on for 20 seconds, or until a door is
opened. See “EXT (Exterior) LIGHTS” under
DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 225.
Pressing the unlock button will disarm the
content theft-deterrent system, if equipped.
SeeContent Theft-Deterrent on page 113.
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