Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact or
side impact.
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned of f (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag of f (see
page ).
An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.
Sensors that monitor the weight
on the f ront passenger’s seat. If
the weight is about 65 lbs (29 kg)
or less (the weight of an inf ant or
small child), the passenger’s f ront
airbag will be turned off (see page
).
A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too f ar f orward, the airbag will
inf late with less f orce (see page
).
Sensors that can detect whether
the driver’s seat belt and a f ront
passenger’s seat belt is latched or
unlatched (see page ).
An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
f ront airbag has been turned of f
(see page ).
20
22
28
28
31
33
32
30
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
25
06/08/08 14:19:03 31SDR620_030
Af ter inf lating, the f ront airbags will
immediately def late, so they won’t
interf ere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and
def lation is one-tenth of a second, so
f ast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
During a f rontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.
Although both airbags normally
inf late within a split second of each
other, it is possible f or only one
airbag to deploy.
This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
suf f icient protection, and the
supplemental protection of f ered by
the airbag would be minimal.
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration.
If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will instantly
inf late the driver’s and f ront
passenger’s airbags, at the time and
with the f orce needed. Only the driver’s airbag can deploy if
there is no passenger in the f ront
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (seepage).
28
How Your Front Airbags Work
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
26
06/08/08 14:19:13 31SDR620_031
µ
Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision. To do this,
the passenger’s f ront airbag is quite
large, and it can inflate with enough
f orce to cause very serious injuries.If the vehicle seat is
too far forward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough f orce to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.
Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page f or important
inf ormation about protecting larger
children).
According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
saf er when they are restrained in a
back seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Some
states have laws restricting where
children may ride.
Children who ride in the back are
less likely to be injured by striking
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating front airbag when they ride
in the back.
Even though your vehicle has an
advanced front airbag system that
automatically turns the passenger’s
front airbag off (see page ),
please f ollow these guidelines:
If
the airbag inf lates, it can hit the back
of the child seat with enough force
to kill or very seriously injure an
inf ant. 33
50
CONT INUED
Small ChildrenPlacing a f orward-f acing child seat inthe f ront seat of a vehicle equippedwit h a passenger’s f ront airbag canbe hazardous.
Larger ChildrenChildren who have outgrown childseat s are also at risk of being injuredor killed by an inf lat ing passenger’sfront airbag.
Inf ant s
Never put a rear-f acing child seat inthe f ront seat of a vehicle equippedwit h a passenger’s f ront airbag.All Children Should Sit in a Back
Seat The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Poses Serious Risks
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
37
06/08/08 14:21:16 31SDR620_042
An inf ant must be properly
restrained in a rear-f acing, reclining
child seat until the child reaches the
seat maker’s weight or height limit
f or the seat, and the child is at least
one year old.
Only a rear-f acing child seat provides
proper support f or a baby’s head,
neck, and back.Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively f or inf ants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear-
f acing, reclining mode.
If placed
f acing f orward, an inf ant could be
very seriously injured during a
f rontal collision. A rear-f acing child seat can be placed
in any seating position in the back
seat, but not in the f ront.
If the passenger’s front airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough f orce to kill or
seriously injure an inf ant.
When properly installed, a rear-
f acing child seat may prevent the
driver or a f ront passenger f rom
moving their seat as far back as
recommended, or f rom locking their
seat-back in the desired position.
It can also interf ere with proper
operation of the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system.
CONT INUED
Protecting Inf ants
Child Seat T ypeDo not put a rear-f acing child seat in
a f orward-f acing position. Never put a
rear-f acing child seat in t he f ront seat .
Rear-f acing Child Seat Placement
Protecting Inf ants and Small Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
41
06/08/08 14:22:07 31SDR620_046
If you decide that a child can saf ely
ride up f ront, be sure to:Caref ully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all saf ety
inf ormation.
Move the vehicle seat to the rear-
most position.
Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the f loor.
Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.
Supervise the child. Even mature
children sometimes need to be
reminded to f asten the seat belts
or sit properly.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can saf ely ride in f ront,
there are other important f actors you
should consider.
If the passenger’s front airbag
inf lates in a moderate to severe
f rontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position.
A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child’s body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Physically, a child must be large
enough f or the lap/shoulder belt to
properly f it (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not f it properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in f ront.
To saf ely ride in f ront, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.5016
Physical Size
Maturity
When Can a L arger Child Sit in
Front
Protecting L arger Children
52
06/08/08 14:24:12 31SDR620_057
These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury or death. Read these labels
caref ully. If a label comes of f or
becomeshardtoread(exceptforthe
U.S. dashboard label which is
removed by the owner), contact your
dealer f or a replacement.
Canadian models
U.S. model
U.S. model Canadian model
U.S. model
U.S. model only
Canadian model Canadian model
U.S. model
Saf ety L abels
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
55
SUN VISOR
HOOD DOORJAMBS
RADIATOR
CAP
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
DASHBOARD
06/08/08 14:25:24 31SDR620_060
The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Instrument Panel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
59
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMPSUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
INDICATOR
DOOR AND TRUNK
OPEN MONITOR
LIGHTS ON INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
IMA SYSTEM
INDICATOR CRUISE CONTROL
MAIN INDICATOR
FUEL ECONOMY INDICATOR SEAT
BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR
VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR
HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) INDICATOR
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
INDICATOR SECURITY SYSTEM
INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR
TURN SIGNAL
AND HAZARD
WARNING
INDICATORS
AUTO IDLE STOP
INDICATOR PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD WARNING INDICATORS
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
(EPS) INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE
MINDER INDICATOR VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.61)
(P.62) (P.65)
(P.64) (P.62)
(P.61)
(P.61)
(P.60) (P.60)
(P.63)
(P.63)
(P.66)
(P.65) (P.66)
(P.66)
(P.66)
(P.63) (P.60)
(P.65)
(P.60) (P.63)
(P.60)
(P.64) (P.64)
(P.65) (P.62)
06/08/08 14:25:47 31SDR620_064
This indicator comes on when you
turn on the cruise control master
button (see page ).
This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See pagef or inf ormation on operating the
cruise control. This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It will
gooffifyouhaveinserteda
properly-coded ignition key. If it is
not a properly-coded key, the
indicator will blink and the engine
will not start (see page ).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom the ON (II) position to
the ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0)
position.
This indicator comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
fluidwhenyouseethisindicator
come on (see page ).
This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It
remindsyouthatitistimetotake
your vehicle in f or scheduled
maintenance. The maintenance main
items and sub items will be displayed
in the inf ormation display. See page
f or more inf ormation on the
maintenance minder.
This indicator goes of f when your
dealer resets it after completing the
required maintenance service.
147
147 193 82
209
Canadian model only
Cruise Control Indicator Cruise Control Main
Indicator Immobilizer System
Indicator
Washer Level Indicator
Maintenance Minder
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
65
06/08/08 14:27:05 31SDR620_070