Airbag System
The vehicle has the following airbags:
•A frontal airbag for the driver.
•A frontal airbag for the right front passenger.
•A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the driver.
•A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the right front
passenger.
The vehicle may also have the following airbags:
•A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger
seated directly behind the driver.
•A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger and
the passenger seated directly behind the rightfront passenger.
All of the airbags in your vehicle will have the wordAIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached labelnear the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on themiddle part of the steering wheel for the driver andon the instrument panel for the right front passenger.
With seat-mounted side impact airbags, the wordAIRBAG will appear on the side of the seatback closestto the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appearalong the headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement the protectionprovided by safety belts. Even though today’s airbagsare also designed to help reduce the risk of injuryfrom the force of an inflating bag, all airbags must inflatevery quickly to do their job.
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{WARNING:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or
killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older children, but not for
young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s
safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can provide.
Always secure children properly in your vehicle.
To read how, seeOlder Children on page 2-33or
Infants and Young Children on page 2-37.
There is an airbagreadiness light on theinstrument panel, whichshows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system formalfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electricalproblem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-50for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the middle of thesteering wheel.
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If the vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, rightfront passenger, and second row outboard passengers,they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
{WARNING:
If something is between an occupant and an airbag,
the airbag might not inflate properly or it might force
the object into that person causing severe injury or
even death. The path of an inflating airbag must be
kept clear. Do not put anything between an
occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near
any other airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that block the inflation
path of a seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof of a vehicle with
roof-rail airbags by routing a rope or tie down
through any door or window opening. If you do, the
path of an inflating roof-rail airbag will be blocked.
Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
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What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends anelectrical signal triggering a release of gas fromthe inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causingthe bag to break out of the cover and deploy. Theinflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part ofthe airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steeringwheel and instrument panel. For vehicles withseat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbagmodules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to thedoor. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there areairbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near theside windows that have occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel orthe instrument panel. In moderate to severe sidecollisions, even belted occupants can contact the insideof the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safetybelts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of theimpact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,stopping the occupant more gradually. Seat-mountedside impact and roof-rail airbags distribute the forceof the impact more evenly over the occupant’supper body.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,primarily because the occupant’s motion is nottoward those airbags. SeeWhen Should an AirbagInflate? on page 2-63for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything morethan a supplement to safety belts.
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{WARNING:
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may
have also damaged important functions in the
vehicle, such as the fuel system, brake and
steering systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears
to be drivable after a moderate crash, there may
be concealed damage that could make it difficult
to safely operate the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt to restart the
engine after a crash has occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag,windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.Additional windshield breakage may also occur from theright front passenger airbag.
•Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts forthe airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbagsystem will not be there to help protect you inanother crash. A new system will include airbagmodules and possibly other parts. The servicemanual for your vehicle covers the need to replaceother parts.
•The vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic
module which records information after a crash.SeeVehicle Data Recording and Privacy onpage 8-18andEvent Data Recorders on page 8-19.
•Let only qualified technicians work on the airbag
systems. Improper service can mean that anairbag system will not work properly. See yourdealer/retailer for service.
Passenger Sensing System
The vehicle has a passenger sensing system for theright front passenger position. The passenger airbagstatus indicator will be visible on the overhead consolewhen the vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,are visible during the system check. If you are usingremote start, if equipped, to start the vehicle froma distance, you may not see the system check.
United StatesCanada
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or changeabout the vehicle that could keep the airbagsfrom working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, overhead console, front
sensors, side impact sensors, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position,
which includes sensors that are part of the
passenger’s seat. The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the original seat
trim is replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or
trim, or with GM covers, upholstery or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any object, such as
an aftermarket seat heater or a comfort enhancing
pad or device, installed under or on top of the
seat fabric, could also interfere with the operation of
the passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing system
from properly turning off the passenger airbag(s).
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 2-67.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to getmy vehicle modified. How can I find out whetherthis will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manualhave information about the location of the airbagsensors, sensing and diagnostic module andairbag wiring.
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Q(Lock):Press to lock all the doors. If enabled
through the Driver Information Center (DIC), the parkinglamps may flash once to indicate locking has occurred.
The horn may chirp whenQis pressed again within
five seconds. SeeDIC Vehicle Customization onpage 4-80for additional information.
PressingQmay arm the content theft-deterrent system.
SeeContent Theft-Deterrent on page 3-19.
K(Unlock):Press once to unlock the driver door.
IfKis pressed again within five seconds, all remaining
doors unlock. The interior lamps come on and stayon for 20 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. Ifenabled through the DIC, the parking lamps flash twiceto indicate unlocking has occurred. SeeDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 4-80. PressingKmay disarm
the content theft-deterrent system. SeeContentTheft-Deterrent on page 3-19.
V(Remote Trunk Release):Press and hold for
about one second to unlock the trunk. The transmissionmust be in P (Park).
L(Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm):Press and release
to locate the vehicle. The turn signal lamps flash andthe horn sounds three times.
Press and holdLfor more than two seconds to
activate the panic alarm. The turn signal lamps flashand the horn sounds repeatedly for 30 seconds.The alarm turns off when the ignition is moved to
ON/RUN orLis pressed again. The ignition must be
in LOCK/OFF for the panic alarm to work.
The vehicle comes with two transmitters. Eachtransmitter will have a number on top of it, “1” or “2”.These numbers correspond to the driver of the vehicle.For example, the memory seat position for driver 1will be recalled when using the transmitter labeled “1”,if enabled through the DIC. SeeMemory Seat,Mirrors and Steering Wheel on page 2-6andDICVehicle Customization on page 4-80for moreinformation.
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Trunk
{WARNING:
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven
with the liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with any
objects that pass through the seal between the
body and the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with the liftgate, or
trunk/hatch open:
•Close all of the windows.
•Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
•Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fanspeed to the highest setting. See ClimateControl System in the Index.
•If the vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate,
disable the power liftgate function.
For more information about carbon monoxide, seeEngine Exhaust on page 3-34.
Remote Trunk Release
V(Remote Trunk Release):The remote trunk
release button is located to the left of the steering wheelnext to the instrument panel brightness control. Pressthe button to open the trunk. The vehicle must bein P (Park) or N (Neutral) and the valet lockout switchmust be off to use this button.
You can also press the button with the trunk symbol onthe RKE transmitter to open the trunk. To disablethis feature, seeValet Lockout Switch on page 3-18.
The trunk can be accessed using the Rear SeatPass-Through. See “Rear Seat Pass-Through” followingthis section.
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