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The seat belts are designed to protect you in many types
of collisions. The front airbags deploy in moderate to
severe frontal collisions.
The window bag on the crash side of the vehicle is
triggered in moderate to severe side collisions. Window
bags will also deploy on rollover events. But even in
collisions where the airbags work, you need the seat belts
to keep you in the correct position for the airbags to
protect you properly.
Here are some simple steps you can follow to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying airbag.
1. Children 12 years and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint.
Infants in rear-facing child restraints shouldNEVERride
in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger front airbag.
An airbag deployment can cause severe injury or death to
infants in that position.You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it properly.
2. All occupants should use their lap and shoulder belts
properly.
3. The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbag room to inflate.
4. If your vehicle has window bags, do not lean against
the door or window. Airbags will inflate forcefully into
the space between you and the door.
5. If the airbag system in this vehicle needs to be
modified to accommodate a disabled person, contact the
Customer Center. Refer to9If You Need Customer Assis-
tance9in Section 9.
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NOTE:Perchlorate Material ± special handling may ap-
ply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Enhanced Accident Response System
If the airbags deploy after an impact and the electrical
system remains functional, vehicles equipped with
power door locks will unlock automatically, the engine
will shut off and the hazard lights will turn on. In
addition, approximately five seconds after the vehicle has
stopped moving, the interior lights will light until the
ignition switch is turned OFF.
Airbag Light
You will want to have the airbags ready to
inflate for your protection in an impact. While
the airbag system is designed to be mainte-
nance free, if any of the following occurs, have
an authorized dealer service the system promptly:
²The airbag light does not come on or flickers during
the 2.5 to 8 seconds when the ignition switch is first
turned ON.
²The light remains on or flickers after the 2.5 to 8
seconds interval.
²The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
NOTE:If the speedometer, tachometer or any engine
related gauges are not working, the airbag control mod-
ule may also be disabled. The airbags may not be ready
to inflate for your protection. Promptly check the fuse
block for blown fuses. Refer to ªFuse Blockº in Section 7.
See your authorized dealer if the fuse is good.
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
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particular driver, vehicle, or crash, will be treated confi-
dentially. Confidential data will not be disclosed by the
manufacturer to any third party except when:
1. Used for research purposes, such as to match data
with a particular crash record in an aggregate database,
provided confidentiality of personal data is thereafter
preserved
2. Used in defense of litigation involving a the manufac-
turer's product
3. Requested by police under a legal warrant
4. Otherwise required by law
Data parameters that may be recorded:
²Diagnostic trouble code(s) and warning light status for
electronically-controlled safety systems, including the
airbag system
²Airbag disable light status (if equipped)
²9Time9of airbag deployment (in terms of ignition
cycles and vehicle mileage)
²Airbag deployment level (if applicable)
²Impact acceleration and angle
²Seat belt status
²Brake status (service and parking brakes)
²Accelerator status (including vehicle speed)
²Engine control status (including engine speed)
²Transmission gear selection
²Cruise control status
²Traction/stability control status
²Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) status (if
equipped)
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE