30
Seats
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow any passengers to sit on
top of a folded–down seatback, or
in the luggage compartment or car-
go area. Persons not properly
seated and/or not properly re-
strained by seat belts can be killed
or severely injured in the event of
emergency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow any
passengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Otherwise,
death or severe injuries can occur
in the event of emergency braking
or a collision.
Driver seat
CAUTION
The SRS driver airbag deploys with
considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if
the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (“NHTSA”) advises:
Since the risk zone for driver airbag
is the first 50–75 mm (2–3 in.) of
inflation, placing yourself 250 mm (10
in.) from your driver airbag provides
you with a clear margin of safety.
This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your
breastbone. If you sit less than 250
mm (10 in.) away now, you can
change your driving position in sever-
al ways:
Move your seat to the rear as far
as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
Slightly recline the back of the
seat. Although vehicle designs vary,
many drivers can achieve the 250
mm (10 in.) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, sim-
ply by reclining the back of the
seat somewhat. If reclining the back
of your seat makes it hard to see
the road, raise yourself by using a
firm, non–slippery cushion, or raise
the seat if your vehicle has that
feature.
If your steering wheel is adjustable,
tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of
your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as rec-
ommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot
pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
Front seats—
—Front seat precautions
32
—Adjusting front seats
13T001
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Hold the center of the lever and pull it
up. Then slide the seat to the desired
position with slight body pressure and
release the lever.
2. SEAT CUSHION ANGLE ADJUSTING KNOB (on some models)
Turn the knob either way.
3. SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTING LEVER (for driver ’s seat only)
To change the height of the seat, pull
up or push down the lever. 4. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.CAUTION
Avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts pro-
vide maximum protection in a frontal
or rear collision when the driver and
the front passenger are sitting up
straight and well back in the seats. If
you are reclined, the lap belt may
slide past your hips and apply re-
straint forces directly to the abdomen
or your neck may contact the shoul-
der belt. In the event of a frontal
collision, the more the seat is re-
clined, the greater the risk of death
or serious injury.
5. SEATBACK LOCK RELEASE LEVER (on some models)
Lift the lever. The seatback will fold
forward, and the seat’s slide lock is
released.
Driver ’s seat only:
The seatback lock release lever is
equipped with the seat position memory
function. For details, see “—Moving
front seats for rear seat entry” on page
33.
33
Driver’s seat (with seatback lock release
lever)
Driver’s seat (without seatback lock re-
lease lever)Driver’s seat (with seatback lock release
lever)
:
For easy access to the rear seat, use
the seatback lock release lever.
When the seatback lock release lever is
used, the seat’s original position is
memorized, so the seat may be re-
turned to that original position. Howev-
er, if the seatback angle adjusting lever
is used, the seat will not return to its
original position.
1. Lift the seatback lock release lever.
The seatback will fold forward, and the
seat’s slide lock is released. 2. Move the seat all the way forward.
After rear passengers are seated, slide
the seat backward and then lift the seat-
back. The seat will be set and locked to
its previous position automatically. If the
seat cannot be slid back to the previous
position due to the rear passenger or lug-
gage, the seat will be locked in that posi-
tion, disabling the seat position memory
system. To recall the previous position, lift the
seatback lock release lever after removing
the luggage, or letting him or her get out
or sit properly so that the seat can be slid
back to the previous position. However, if
you once slide the seat all the way back-
ward instead of lifting the seatback lock
release lever, the seat can be slid and
locked in the original position.
If the driver’s seat position is adjusted,
the new position is set as the memorized
position.
NOTICE
The seatback angle adjusting lever
and seatback lock release lever can-
not be used at the same time. If they
are used together, the seat lock mech-
anism may be damaged.
—Moving front seats for rear
seat entry
37
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
13T005
Raise the head restraints a little. Pull
up the rear seatback angle adjusting
lever and fold the seatbacks down. The
lowered head restraints will prevent the
seatback from being down completely.
Each seatback can be folded separately.
This will enlarge the luggage compartment
as far as the seatbacks. See “Cargo and
luggage” on page 175 for precautions
when loading luggage.
CAUTION
When only rear left seat is folded
down, rear seat alone can be used.
Never sit on the center seat because
the rear center seat belt cannot be
fastened correctly when the rear left
seat is folded down.
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the follow-
ing precautions in order to prevent
death or serious injury in a collision
or sudden stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in the proper
position and are ready to use.
—Folding down rear seats
175
When stowing cargo and luggage in
the vehicle, observe the following:
Put cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment when at all
possible. Be sure all items are se-
cured in place.
Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far
forward as possible helps maintain
balance.
For better fuel economy, do not
carry unneeded weight.
CAUTION
When the rear seatbacks are in
the upright position—
To prevent cargo and l uggage
from sliding forward during
braking, do not stack anything
in the luggage compartment
higher than the seatbacks.
Keep cargo and luggage low,
as close to the floor as pos-
sible.
When the rear seatbacks are
folded down—
To prevent cargo and l uggage
from sliding forward during
braking, do not stack anything
in the enlarged luggage
compartment. Keep cargo and
luggage low, as close to the
floor as possible.
Never allow anyone to ride in
the luggage compartment. It is
not designed for passengers.
They should ride in their seats
with their seat belts properly
fastened. Otherwise, they are
much more likely to suffer
death or serious bodily injury,
in the event of sudden braking
or a collision.
Do not place anything on the
luggage cover. Such items may
be thrown about and possibly
injure people in the vehicle
during sudden braking or an
accident. Secure all items in a
safe place.
Do not drive with objects left
on top of the instrument panel.
They may interfere with the
driver’s field of view. Or they
may move during sudden ve-
hicle acceleration or turning,
and impair the driver’s control
of the vehicle. In an accident
they may injure the vehicle oc-
cupants.
Cargo and luggage—
—Stowage precautions
220
Exhaust system
If you notice any change in the sound of
the exhaust or smell exhaust fumes, have
the cause located and corrected immedi-
ately. (See “Engine exhaust cautions” on
page 152.)
INSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be checked
regularly, e.g. while performing periodic
services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights
are all working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers function properly.
Steering wheel
Check that it has specified free play. Be
alert for changes in steering condition,
such as hard steering or strange noise.Seats
Check that all front seat controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. op-
erate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in any position. Check that the
head restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks hold securely
in any latched position. For folding–down
rear seatbacks, check that the latches
lock securely.
Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles, retractors and anchors operate
properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt
webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-
aged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching.
Clutch pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
that the pedal has the proper clearance.
Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
In a safe place, check that the brakes do
not pull to one side when applied.Parking brake
Check that the lever has the proper travel
and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle
is held securely with only the parking
brake applied.
Automatic transmission “Park” mecha-
nism
Check the lock release button of the se-
lector lever for proper and smooth opera-
tion. On a safe incline, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector
lever in “P” position and all brakes re-
leased.
OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be performed
from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, wa-
ter or other fluid after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. If you smell fuel
fumes or notice any leak, have the cause
found and corrected immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all the side doors and back
door operate smoothly and all latches lock
securely. Make sure the engine hood sec-
ondary latch secures the hood from open-
ing when the primary latch is released.