2011 MITSUBISHI COLT Owner's Manual (in English)

How the Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem works E00407301583
The SRS includes the following components:
1- Airbag module (Driver)
2- Front passenger’s airbag OFF indication lamp
3- Airbag module (Passenger)
4- Front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch
5- Side airbag modules*
6- Curtain airbag modules*
The airbags will operate only when the ignition
switch is in the “ON” or “START” position.

The airbags deployment produces a sudden, loud
noise, and releases some smoke and powder, but
these conditions are not injurious, and do not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. People with respiratory
problems may feel some temporary irritation from
chemicals used to produce the deployment; open
the windows after airbag deployment, if safe to do
so.
The airbags deflate very rapidly after deployment,
so there is little danger of obscured vision.CAUTIONl Airbags inflate at an extremely rapid
speed. In certain situations, contact with
inflating airbags can result in abrasions,
light cuts, bruises, and the like.Front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF
switch E00410100197
The front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch can
be used to disable the front passenger’s airbag. If
you have a child restraint system that cannot be fit-
ted to any seat other than the front passenger seat,
be sure to turn OFF the front passenger’s airbag
ON-OFF switch before using it. (Refer to “To turn
an airbag off” on page 2-26.)
The front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch is lo-
cated in the glove box.Front passenger’s airbag OFF indication lamp E00411500101
The front passenger’s airbag OFF indication lamp
is located in the meter.
The indication lamp normally comes on when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, and
goes off a few seconds later.
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2

When the front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch
is turned OFF, the indication lamp will stay on to
show that the passenger front airbag is not opera-
tional.
When the front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch
is turned ON, the indication lamp goes off to show
that the front passenger’s airbag is operational.To turn an airbag off E00410600235WARNINGlTo reduce risk of serious or fatal injury:
•Always remove the key from the igni-
tion switch before operating a front
passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch.
Failure to do so could adversely affect
the airbag performance.
• Wait at least 60 seconds to operate the
front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF
switch after turning the ignition
switch from “ON” position to
“LOCK” position.
The SRS airbag system is designed to
retain enough voltage to deploy the air-
bag.
• Always remove the key from a front
passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch af-
ter operating that switch.
Failure to do so could lead to improp-
er position of the front passenger’s air-
bag ON-OFF switch.
• Do not turn OFF the front passen-
ger’s airbag ON-OFF switch except
when a child restraint system is fitted
to the front passenger seat.WARNING• Turn ON the front passenger’s airbag
ON-OFF switch immediately after re-
moving a child restraint system from
the passenger seat.
• If the indication lamp does not come
on when the front passenger’s airbag
ON-OFF switch is turned OFF, do not
fit a child restraint system to the front
passenger seat. We recommend you to
have the system inspected by a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized
Service Point.
• If the indication lamp remains on
when the front passenger’s airbag
ON-OFF switch is turned ON, do not
allow anyone to sit on the front passen-
ger seat. We recommend you to have
the system inspected by a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized
Service Point.
To turn an airbag off, follow these steps: 1.Insert the key into the key opening of the
front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch,
push the key inwards until stopped by a
touch and then turn the key from “ON” to
“OFF” position (anticlockwise).
2. Remove the key from the key opening of that the front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch.
3.Insert the key into the ignition switch, and
turn the ignition to “ON” position. The front
passenger’s airbag OFF indication lamp will
stay on.
The front passenger’s airbag is now deactivated
and will not deploy until switched on again.
Driver’s and passenger’s front airbag
system E00407400213
The driver’s airbag is located under the padded cov-
er in the middle of the steering wheel. The front pas-
senger’s airbag is contained in the instrument panel
above the glove box.
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2-26
2

The driver’s airbag and the front passenger’s air-
bag are designed to inflate at the same time even if
the passenger seat is not occupied.Deployment of front airbags E00407501367The front airbags ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY
when...Head-on collision with a solid wall at speed ofapproximately 25 km/h (16 mph) or higherModerate to severe frontal impact within the shadedarea between the arrows
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2

The front airbags are designed to deploy when the
vehicle suffers a moderate to severe frontal impact.
A typical condition is shown in the illustration.

The front airbags will deploy if the severity of im-
pact is above the designed threshold level, compa-
rable to an approximately 25 km/h (16 mph) colli-
sion when impacting straight into a solid wall that
does not move or deform. If the severity of the im-
pact is below the above threshold level, the front air-
bags may not deploy. However, this threshold
speed will be considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object that absorbs the impact by either
deforming or moving (for example, another station-
ary vehicle, pole or a guard rail).

Because frontal collisions can easily move you out
of position, it is important to always properly wear
your seat belts. Your seat belts will help keep you
in a safe distance from the steering wheel and in-
strument panel during the initial stages of airbag de-
ployment. The initial stage of airbag inflation is the
most forceful, and can possibly cause serious or fa-
tal injuries. Moreover, the seat belts in your vehicle
are your primary means of protection in a collision.
The SRS airbags are designed to provide additional
protection. Therefore, for your safety and the safe-
ty of all occupants, be sure to always properly wear
your seat belts.
The front airbags MAY NOT DEPLOY when…
With certain types of frontal collisions, the vehi-
cle’s body structure is designed to absorb the shock
to help protect the occupants from harm. (The vehi-
cle body’s front area may deform significantly as it
absorbs the impact.) Under such circumstances, the
front airbags may not deploy irrespective of the de-
formation and damage to the vehicle body.Examples of some typical conditions are shown in
the illustration.

Because the front airbags do not protect the occu-
pant in all types of frontal collisions, be sure to al-
ways properly wear your seat belts.Collision with a utility pole, tree or other narrow objectsVehicle slides under the rear body of a truckOblique frontal impactsThe front airbags ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DE-
PLOY when...
The front airbags are not designed to deploy in con-
ditions where they cannot typically provide protec-
tion to the occupant. Such conditions are shown in
the illustration.

Because the front airbags do not protect the occu-
pant in all types of collisions, be sure to always prop-
erly wear your seat belts.Rear end collisionsSide collisionsVehicle rolls onto its side or roof
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2

The front airbags MAY DEPLOY when…
The front airbags may deploy if the bottom of the
vehicle suffers a moderate-to-severe impact (under-
carriage damage).
Examples of some typical conditions are shown in
the illustration.
Because the front airbags may deploy in certain
types of unexpected impacts as shown in the illus-
tration that can easily move you out of position, it
is important to always properly wear your seat
belts. Your seat belts will help keep you a safe dis-
tance from the steering wheel and instrument panel
during the initial stages of airbag deployment. The
initial stage of airbag inflation is the most forceful
and can possibly cause serious or fatal injuries if
you contact it at this stage.Collision with an elevated median/island or kerbVehicle travels over a deep hole/potholeVehicle drives down a steep slope and hits the ground
WARNINGl Do not attach anything to the steering
wheel padded cover, such as trim materi-
al, badges, etc. It might strike and injure
an occupant if the airbag inflates.
l Do not set anything on, or attach any-
thing to, the instrument panel above the
glove box. It might strike and injure an oc-
cupant if the airbag inflates.WARNINGl Do not attach accessories to, or put them
in front of, the windscreen. These objects
could restrict the airbag inflation, or
strike and injure an occupant if the air-
bags inflate.
l Do not put packages, pets or other ob-
jects between the airbags and the driver
or front passenger. It could affect airbag
performance, or could cause injury when
the airbag inflates.
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2

WARNINGlRight after the airbag inflation, several
airbag system components will be hot. Do
not touch them; you could be burned.
l The airbag system is designed to work on-
ly once. Once the airbags have deployed,
they will not work again. They must
promptly be replaced, and we recom-
mend you to have the entire airbag sys-
tem inspected by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point.Side airbag system* E00407600084
The side airbags (A) are contained in the driver and
front passenger seatbacks.
The side airbag is designed to inflate only on the
side of the vehicle that is impacted, even with no
passenger in the front seat.
The label shown here is attached to the seatbacks
with a side airbag.Curtain airbag system* E00409100067
The curtain airbags are contained in the front and
rear pillars and roof side rail. The curtain airbag is
designed to inflate only on the side of the vehicle
that is impacted, even with no passenger in the
front seat or rear seat.
Deployment of side airbags and cur-
tain airbags E00407701024
The side airbags and curtain airbags ARE DE-
SIGNED TO DEPLOY when…
The side airbags and curtain airbags are designed
to deploy when the vehicle suffers a moderate-to-
severe side impact to the middle of the passenger
compartment.
The typical condition is shown in the illustration.
The seat belts in your vehicle are your primary
means of protection in a collision. The SRS side air-
bags and curtain airbags are designed to provide ad-
ditional protection. Therefore, for your safety and
the safety of all occupants, be sure to always prop-
erly wear your seat belts.
Seat and seat belts
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2

The side airbags and curtain airbags MAY NOT
DEPLOY when…
With certain types of side collisions, the vehicle’s
body structure is designed to absorb the shock to
help protect the occupants from harm. (The vehicle
body’s side area may deform significantly as it ab-
sorbs the impact.) Under such circumstances, the
side airbags and curtain airbags may not deploy ir-
respective of the deformation and damage to the ve-
hicle body.
Examples of some typical conditions are shown in
the illustration.
Because the side airbags and curtain airbags do not
protect the occupant in all types of collisions, be
sure to always properly wear your seat belts.Side impacts in an area away from the passenger
compartmentMotorcycle or other similar small vehicle collides with the
side of vehicleCollision with a utility pole, tree or other narrow objectOblique side impactsVehicle rolls onto its side or roof
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2

The side airbags and curtain airbags ARE NOT
DESIGNED TO DEPLOY when…
The side airbags and curtain airbags are not de-
signed to deploy in conditions where they cannot
usually provide protection to the occupant. Typical
conditions are shown in the illustration.Head-on collisionsRear end collisions
Because the side airbags and curtain airbags do not
protect the occupant in all types of collisions, be
sure to always properly wear your seat belts.
WARNINGl The side airbags and curtain airbags are
designed to supplement the driver and pas-
senger seat belts in certain side impacts.
Seat belts should always be worn proper-
ly, and the driver and passenger should
sit well back and upright without leaning
against the window or door.WARNINGl The side airbags and curtain airbags in-
flate with great force. The driver and pas-
senger should not put their arms out the
window, and should not lean against the
door, in order to reduce risk of serious or
possible fatal injury from the deploying
side airbags and curtain airbags.WARNINGl Do not allow a child to kneel on the pas-
senger seat facing the passenger’s side
door, since the side airbags and curtain
airbags inflate with great force.
Otherwise, the child may be killed or seri-
ously injured.WARNINGl Do not allow any rear seat occupant to
hold onto the seatback of either front
seat, in order to reduce risk of injury
from the deploying side airbags. Special
care should be taken with children.
l Do not place any objects near or in front
of the seatback of either front seat. They
could interfere with proper side airbag in-
flation, and also could cause injury if
thrown free by side airbag deployment.
l Do not place stickers, labels or additional
trim on the seatback of either front seat.
They could interfere with proper side air-
bag inflation.
l Do not install seat covers on seats with
side airbags. Do not re-cover seats that
have side airbags. They could interfere
with proper side airbag inflation.
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