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Youcanopenthetailgatetwo
dif f erent ways:Drop it open by using the upper
handle.
Swingitopenbyusingtheright
lower handle.
To drop open the tailgate, pull up the
upper handle, then pull down the
tailgate. To close the tailgate, push
f irmly up until it latches.
Bef ore you open the tailgate a
dif f erent way (dropped open, and
then swung open), make sure it is
f ully closed.
Make sure all passengers and
objects are clear of the tailgate
bef ore opening and closing it, and
make sure the tailgate is closed
securely bef ore driving.
As a saf ety f eature, the upper handle
is disabled if you do not f ully close
the tailgate af ter it is swung open.
And the lower handle is disabled if
you do not f ully close the tailgate
af ter it is dropped open.
CONT INUED
To Drop Open the Tailgate
Dual-Action Tailgate
Inst rument s and Cont rols
93
NOTE:
UPPER HANDLE
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To swing open the tailgate, f irst
make sure it is f ully closed, then pull
up the right lower handle, and swing
the tailgate to the lef t.
To close, swing the tailgate back,
and push it f irmly until it is latched.
The dropped open tailgate can be
used as an extended pickup bed.
Make sure to secure the items in the
pickup bed, and do not exceed the
maximum allowable weight on the
tailgate(seepage).
To turn the bed lights on or off, use
the bed light switch on the
dashboard (see page ).
Bef ore opening or closing the
tailgate, check that passengers,
especially children, are not in the
tailgate’s path.
122
194 T o Swing Open the T ailgate
Dual-Action Tailgate
94
HANDLESwinging the tailgate open or
closed while anyone is in its
path can cause serious injury.
Make sure all passengers are
clear of the tailgate’s path
before opening or closing it.
Do not drive with the tailgate swung
open. This could damage the tailgate.
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See page for information on
cargo loading and weight limits.
You can also store and lock items in
the In-Bed Trunk (see page ).
If you do not f asten the seat belt, you
f irst hear the seat belt reminder
alarm, then the tailgate reminder
beeper sounds.
The indicator does not monitor the
tailgate when it is dropped open.
This indicator is in the door and
tailgate open monitor on the
instrument panel. It comes on when
the tailgate is swung open or it is not
completely closed. This indicator
worksevenif thekeyisnotinthe
ignition switch.
If the tailgate is swung open or not
closed tightly when the ignition
switch is in the ON (II) position, you
will hear six beeps and see the
indicator blinking. The indicator
stays on until you close the tailgate.
The beeper also sounds and the
indicator blinks when you move the
shif t lever out of the Park or neutral
position.
Do not allow anyone to hang on the
swung open tailgate. This could
damage the tailgate.
Do not leave the tailgate swung open.
The tailgate may swing and shut
accidentally. This could cause
serious injuries.
Thebedlightscomeonwhenyou
swing open the tailgate. You can also
turn the bed lights on or off by
pushing the bed light switch on the
dashboard (see page ).
96
122 190
Loading Cargo
T ailgat e Open Indicat or
Dual-Action Tailgate
Inst rument s and Cont rols
95
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YoucanopentheIn-BedTrunktwo
dif f erent ways:Push the release button on the
lower right side of the In-Bed
Trunk lid when the driver’s door is
unlocked. To close the In-Bed Trunk, lower the
lid, then press down on the back
edge. If your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the
release button on the In-Bed Trunk
lid is disabled. To open the In-Bed
Trunk, use the master key.
Usethemasterkeytoopenthe
In-Bed Trunk when the driver’s
door is locked. Thebedlightscomeonwhenyou
open the In-Bed Trunk. You can also
turn the bed lights on or off by
pushing the bed light switch on the
dashboard (see page ).
You can store items in the In-Bed
Trunk up to 300 lbs (136 kg). Do not
exceed this weight limit, or you may
damage the In-Bed Trunk. See page
f or inf ormation on loading cargo
and weight limits.
To store items separately in the
In-Bed Trunk, optional divider
guides are available f rom your dealer.
When the In-Bed Trunk is closed
securely, it can be locked or
unlocked along with the power door
locks (see page ).
83 122
190
In-Bed Trunk
96
RELEASE
BUTTON
TM
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To avoid damaging the key and key
cylinder of the In-Bed Trunk lid, do
notclosethetailgatewhenthekeyis
in the lid.As a saf ety f eature, your vehicle has
a release lever on the latch of the
In-Bed Trunk lid so it can be opened
f rom the inside. To open the In-Bed
Trunk, push the release lever in the
direction of the arrow.
Parents should decide if their
children should be shown how to use
this f eature. For more inf ormation
about child saf ety, see page .
To avoid damaging the seal on the
In-Bed Trunk lid, remove any debris
from the lid’s mating surface before
you close it.
To avoid damaging the bottom of the
In-Bed Trunk, do not drive over large
obstacles, and do not use it as a
jacking point to raise the vehicle.
To avoid damaging the In-Bed Trunk
lid, and to prevent items f rom being
thrown about the vehicle and
possibly hurting someone in an
accident or sudden stop, be sure the
In-Bed Trunk lid is securely closed
bef ore driving away. This indicator on the instrument
panel reminds you that the In-Bed
Trunk is open (see page ).69
36
Emergency Opener
In-Bed T runk Open
Indicator
In-Bed Trunk
Inst rument s and Cont rols
97
RELEASE LEVER
TM
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There are two cargo hooks f or
plastic grocery bags at the back of
the In-Bed Trunk. They are designed
to hold light items. Heavy objects
may damage the hooks.
To protect items in the In-Bed Trunk,
you can disable its release button by
turning off the main switch in the
glove box and locking the glove box
with the master key.
Even if the main switch is in the OFF
position, you can open the In-Bed
Trunk with the master key.
When you are f inished washing the
In-Bed Trunk, dry it with a sof t cloth,
and reinstall the drain plug.
Youcanwashtheinsideof the
In-Bed Trunk with a water and mild
detergent solution, and a sof t brush
or cloth.
To drain water from the In-Bed
Trunk, remove the drain plug by
turning it counterclockwise.Cargo Hooks
Washing the In-Bed T runk
In-Bed T runk Main Switch
In-Bed Trunk
98
DRAIN PLUG CARGO HOOKS
MAIN SWITCH
TM
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µ
The f ront passenger’s seat in all
models adjusts manually.Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
To adjust the seat f orward or
backward, pull up on the bar under
the seat cushion’s f ront edge. Move
the seat to the desired position, and
releasethebar.Trytomovetheseatto make sure it is locked in position.
To change the seat-back angle of the
f ront seat, pull up the lever on the
outside of the seat bottom.
Once a seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and f orth to make sure it
is locked in position.
See pages f or important saf ety
inf ormation and warnings about how toproperly position the seats and seat-backs.
On RT, RTX, and Canadian LX models
1113
Manual Seat Adjustments
Seats
Inst rument s and Cont rols
99
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Make sure to pull the lever upward
or downward to its f ull range.
Make all seat adjustments bef ore
you start driving.
The height of your driver’s seat is
adjustable. To raise the seat,
repeatedly pull up the lever on the
outside of the seat cushion. To lower
the seat, push the lever down
repeatedly. Vary the lumbar support by moving
the lever on the right side of the
seat-back. Move the lever forward or
backward to adjust the lumbar
support through its f ull range.
On RTS model
On RT, RTX, and Canadian LX models
Driver’s Seat Manual Height
Adjustment Driver’s Manual L umbar Support
Seats
100
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