
NOTE:Pressing the LOCK button on the RKE transmit-
ter while you are inside the vehicle will activate the
Security Alarm. Opening a door with the Security Alarm
activated will cause the alarm to sound. Press the UN-
LOCK button to deactivate the Security Alarm.
To Unlatch the Liftgate Flip-Up Window
Press the REAR RELEASE button twice to unlatch the
liftgate flip-up window.
WARNING!
To avoid injury stand back when opening. Glass will
automatically rise.
Express Down Window Feature — If Equipped
This feature allows you to remotely lower both front door
windows at the same time. To use this feature, press and
release the UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter and then immediately press and hold the UNLOCK button
until the windows lower to the level desired or until they
lower completely.
Using the PANIC Alarm
NOTE:
The PANIC and Security Alarms are quite
different. Please take a moment to activate the PANIC
and the Security modes to hear the differences in the
horn. In case one should go off in the future, you will
need to know which mode has been activated in order to
deactivate it.
To turn the PANIC Alarm feature ON or OFF, press and
hold the PANIC button on the RKE transmitter for at
least one second and release. When the PANIC Alarm is
on, the headlights and turn signal lights will flash, the
horn will pulse on and off, and the illuminated entry
system will turn on.
24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

For vehicles not equipped with the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC), the power window switches
will remain active for 45 seconds after the ignition switch
is turned to the LOCK position. Opening either front
door will cancel this feature.
For vehicles equipped with the EVIC, the power window
switches will remain active for up to 10 minutes after the
ignition switch is turned to the LOCK position. Opening
either front door will cancel this feature. The time is
programmable. For details, refer to “Delay Power Off to
Accessories Until Exit,” under “Personal Settings
(Customer-Programmable Features)” in the “Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC),” in Section 4 of this
manual.NOTE:
•If the window runs into any obstacle during auto-
closure, it will reverse direction and then go back
down. Remove the obstacle and use the window
switch again to close the window.
•Any impact due to rough road conditions may trigger
the auto reverse function unexpectedly during auto-
closure. If this happens, pull the switch lightly to the
first detent and hold to close window manually.
WARNING!
There is no anti-pinch protection when the window
is almost closed. Be sure to clear all objects from the
window before closing.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 37
2

Seat Belt Pretensioner — If Equipped
The front passenger seat belt is equipped with a preten-
sioning device that is designed to remove any slack from
the seat belt systems in the event of a collision. These
devices improve the performance of the seat belt by
assuring that the belt is tight around the occupant early
in a collision. Pretensioners work for all size occupants,
including those in child restraints.
NOTE:These devices are not a substitute for proper seat
belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt must still be
worn snugly and positioned properly.
The pretensioner is triggered by the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC). Like the front airbags, the pretension-
ers are single use items. After a collision that is severe
enough to deploy the airbags and pretensioners, both
must be replaced.
Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System
(BeltAlert)
If the driver’s or front passenger’s seat belt has not been
buckled within 60 seconds of starting the vehicle, and if
the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), the
Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System (BeltAlert)
will alert the driver or front passenger to buckle their seat
belt. The driver should also instruct all other occupants to
buckle their seat belts. Once the warning is triggered,
BeltAlert will continue to chime and flash the Seat Belt
Reminder Light for 96 seconds or until the driver’s or
front passenger’s seat belt is buckled. BeltAlert will be
reactivated if the driver’s or front passenger’s seat belt is
unbuckled for more than 10 seconds and the vehicle
speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
2

Airbag System Components
The airbag system consists of the following:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Airbag Warning Light
•Driver Airbag
•Front Passenger Airbag
•Side Curtain Airbags above Side Windows
•Side Remote Acceleration Sensors
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Front Acceleration Sensors
•Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioner and Retractor
— If Equipped
•Occupant Classification System (OCS) — Front Pas-
senger Seat Only
Occupant Classification Module (OCM)
Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light
Weight Sensors
How the Airbag System Works
•
TheOccupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines
if a frontal, side, or rollover collision is severe enough
to require the airbags to inflate. The front airbag
inflators are designed to provide different rates of
airbag inflation from direction provided by the ORC.
The ORC may also modify the rate of inflation based
on the occupant size. The ORC receives this data from
the Occupant Classification Module (OCM). The ORC
will detect rollovers, but not rear impacts.
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The ORC also monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the system whenever the ignition switch is in
the START or ON position. These include all of the
items listed above except the Passenger Airbag Disable
(PAD) Indicator Light, the instrument panel, and the
steering wheel and column. If the key is in the LOCK
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition,
the airbags are not on and they will not inflate.
•The ORC also turns on the “Airbag Warning
Light” and “PAD Indicator Light” for six to
eight seconds as a self-check when the igni-
tion is first turned ON. After the self-check,
the “Airbag Warning Light” will turn off. The “PAD
Indicator Light” will function normally (refer to infor-
mation on Passenger Airbag Disable (PAD) Indicator
Light in this section). If the ORC detects a malfunction
in any part of the system, it turns on the “Airbag Warning Light” either momentarily or continuously. A
single chime will sound if the light comes on again
after initial startup.
WARNING!
Ignoring the “Airbag Warning Light” in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won’t have the airbags to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have the airbag system checked right
away.
•The
Occupant Classification System (OCS) is part of
a Federally regulated safety system required for this
vehicle. It is designed to turn off the front passenger
airbag for an empty seat and for occupants classified
in a category other than that of an adult. This could be
a child, teenager, or even a small size adult.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59
2

will cause the system to turn the airbag on. In this case,
the OCS has classified the occupant of the seat as an
adult. An adult occupant needs to sit in a normal position
(with their feet on or near the floor) in order to be
properly classified. Reclining the seat back too far may
change how an occupant is classified by the OCS.
Drivers and adult passengers should verify that the
“PAD Indicator Light” is not illuminated when an adult
is riding in the front passenger seat. If an adult occu-
pant’s weight is transferred to another part of the vehicle
(like the door or instrument panel), the weight sensors in
the seat may not properly classify the occupant. Objects
lodged under the seat or between the seat and the center
console can prevent the occupant’s weight from being
measured properly and may result in the occupant being
improperly classified. Ensure that the front passenger
seatback does not touch anything placed on the back seatbecause this can also affect occupant classification. Also,
if you fold down the rear seat check to be sure it doesn’t
touch the front passenger seat.
If the front passenger seat is damaged in any way, it
should only be serviced by an authorized dealer. If the
seat is removed (or even if the seat attachment bolts are
loosened or tightened in any way), take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer.
If there is a fault present in the OCS, the “Airbag Warning
Light” (a red light located in the center of the instrument
cluster directly in front of the driver) will be turned on.
This indicates that you should take the vehicle to an
authorized dealer. The “Airbag Warning Light” is turned
on whenever there is a fault that can affect the operation
of the airbag system. If there is a fault present in the OCS,
both the “PAD Indicator Light” and the “Airbag Warning
Light” are illuminated to show that the passenger airbag
is turned off until the fault is cleared. If an object is
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

lodged under the seat and interferes with operation of
the weight sensors, a fault will occur which turns on both
the “PAD Indicator Light” and the “Airbag Warning
Light.” Once the lodged object is removed, the fault will
be automatically cleared after a short period of time.
•TheDriver and Passenger Airbag/Inflator Units are
located in the center of the steering wheel and the
passenger side of the instrument panel. When the ORC
detects a collision requiring the airbags, it signals the
inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas is
generated to inflate the front airbags. Different airbag
inflation rates are possible, based on collision severity
and occupant size. The steering wheel hub trim cover
and the upper passenger side of the instrument panel
separate and fold out of the way, as the bags inflate to
their full size. The bags fully inflate in about 50 to 70
milliseconds. This is about half of the time that it takes
to blink your eyes. The bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger. The driver’s front airbag gas is vented through the vent
holes in the sides of the airbag. The passenger’s front
airbag gas is vented through the vent holes in the sides
of the airbag. In this way, the airbags do not interfere
with your control of the vehicle.•The
Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is lo-
cated beneath the front passenger seat. The OCM
classifies the occupant into categories based on the
measurements made by the seat weight sensors. The
OCM communicates with the Occupant Restraint Con-
troller (ORC). The ORC uses the occupant category to
determine whether the front passenger airbag should
be turned off. It also determines the rate of airbag
inflation during a collision.
•Your vehicle has four Weight Sensorslocated between
the seat and the floor pan. The weight sensors measure
applied weight and transfers that information to the
OCM.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63
2

throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation
continues, see your doctor. If these particles settle on
your clothing, follow the garment manufacturer’s in-
structions for cleaning.
•It is not advisable to drive your vehicle after the
airbags have deployed. If you are involved in another
collision, the airbags will not be in place to protect you.
WARNING!
Deployed airbags and seat belt pretensioners cannot
protect you in another collision. Have the airbags,
seat belt pretensioner, and seat belt retractor assem-
bly replaced by an authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Also, have the Occupant Classification Sys-
tem serviced as well.
Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact that causes airbag deployment,
with the vehicle stopped, the vehicle communication
network intact, and the power intact, the Enhanced
Accident Response System performs the following func-
tions:
•Cuts off fuel to the engine.
•Flashes hazard lights.
•Turns on the interior lights, which remain on as long as
the battery has power or until the ignition key is
removed.
•Unlocks the doors automatically.
NOTE: The interior lights can only be deactivated if the
key is removed from the ignition switch or the vehicle is
driven.
66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE