2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN driver seat

•Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim,
but they will open during air bag deployment.
•Being too close to the SAB and SABIC air bags during
deployment could cause you to be severely injured or
killed.
The system includes side impact sensors that are cali-
brated to deploy the side air bags during impacts that
require air bag occupant protection.
WARNING!
•If your vehicle is equipped with left and right
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC), do not stack luggage or other cargo up
high enough to block the location of the SABIC.
The area where the side curtain air bag is located
should remain free from any obstructions. (Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the side air bags; the perfor-
mance could be adversely affected and/or objects
could be pushed into you, causing serious injury.
Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag
The Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag provides
enhanced protection and works together with the Driver
Advanced Front Air Bag during a frontal impact.
Knee Impact Bolster
The Knee Impact Bolster helps protect the knees of the
front passenger, and position the front occupant for the
best interaction with the Advanced Front Air Bag.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 75

Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced Front
Air Bags work with the Supplemental Driver Side Knee
Air Bag and the passenger side knee bolster to provide
improved protection for the driver and front passenger.
Side air bags also work with seat belts to improve
occupant protection.
Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
TheORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.
The ORC determines if deployment of the front and/or
side air bags in a frontal or side collision is required.
Based on the impact sensor’s signals, a central electronic
ORC deploys the Advanced Front Air Bags, SABIC air
bags, SABs, Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag, and
front seat belt pretensioners, as required, depending on
the severity and type of impact. Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver Side
Knee Air Bag are designed to provide additional protec-
tion by supplementing the seat belts in certain frontal
collisions depending on the severity and type of collision.
Advanced Front Air Bags are not expected to reduce the
risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover collisions.
The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver
Side Knee Air Bag will not deploy in all frontal collisions,
including some that may produce substantial vehicle
damage — for example, some pole collisions, truck
underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the other
hand, depending on the type and location of impact,
Advanced Front Air Bags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe
initial deceleration.
The side air bags will not deploy in all side collisions.
Side air bag deployment will depend on the severity and
type of collision.
76 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Driver Side Knee Air Bag. The trim cover separates and
folds out of the way allowing the air bag to inflate to the
full size. The air bag fully inflates in about 15 to 20
milliseconds. The Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air
Bag gas is vented through small vent holes in the side of
the air bag.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag (SAB)
Inflator Units
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB) are
designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the side
air bags to inflate, based on the severity and type of
collision.
Based on the severity and type of collision, the side air
bag inflator on the crash side of the vehicle may be
triggered, releasing a quantity of non-toxic gas. The
inflating SAB exits through the seat seam into the space
between the occupant and the door. The SAB fully inflatein about 10 milliseconds. The side air bag moves at a very
high speed and with such a high force that it could injure
you if you are not seated properly, or if items are
positioned in the area where the side air bag inflates. This
especially applies to children.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC) Inflator Units
During collisions where the impact is confined to a
particular area of the side of the vehicle, the ORC may
deploy the SABIC air bags, depending on the severity
and type of collision. In these events, the ORC will
deploy the SABIC only on the impact side of the vehicle.
A quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the side
curtain air bag. The inflating side curtain air bag pushes
the outside edge of the headliner out of the way and
covers the window. The air bag inflates in about 30
milliseconds (about one-quarter of the time that it takes
to blink your eyes) with enough force to injure you if you
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 79

in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt or the LATCH
child restraint anchorage system. Refer to “Lower An-
chors and Tether for CHildren (LATCH)”.
All children whose weight or height is above the
forward-facing limit for the child seat should use a
belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belts
fit properly. If the child cannot sit with knees bent over
the vehicle’s seat cushion while the child’s back is against
the seatback, they should use a belt-positioning booster
seat. The child and belt-positioning booster seat are held
in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback, should use the lap/shoulder belt in a rear seat.
•Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
•The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
•Check belt fit periodically. A child’s squirming or
slouching can move the belt out of position.
•If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the
child closer to the center of the vehicle. If this doesn’t
help, move the child to the center rear seating position
and use both the lap and shoulder belt. Never allow a
child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or behind
their back.
NOTE: For additional information, refer to
www.seatcheck.org or call 1–866–SEATCHECK. Cana-
dian residents should refer to Transport Canada’s web-
site for additional information: http://www.tc.gc.ca/
roadsafety/safedrivers/childsafety/index.htm
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 87

WARNING!
An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor positions directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.
Installing The Child Restraint Using The Vehicle
Seat Belts
The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are
equipped with an Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) or
a cinching latch plate to secure a Child Restraint System
(CRS). These types of seat belts are designed to keep the
lap portion of the seat belt tight around the child restraint
so that it is not necessary to use a locking clip. The ALR
will make a ratcheting noise if you extract the entire belt
from the retractor and then allow the belt to retract into
the retractor. For additional information on ALR, refer to“Automatic Locking Mode” description under “Seat
Belts in Passenger Seating Positions” section. The chart
below defines the seating positions with an Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) or a cinching latch plate.
Driver Center Passenger
CRS Lock CRS Lock CRS Lock
First Row N/A N/A ALR
Second Row ALR N/A ALR Third Row ALR Cinch ALR
•N/A — Not Applicable
•ALR — Automatic Locking Retractor
Installing a Child Restraint with an ALR:
1. To install a child restraint with ALR, first, pull enough
of the seat belt webbing from the retractor to route it
through the belt path of the child restraint. Slide the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.” Next,
extract all the seat belt webbing out of the retractor and
94 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
Mirrors ............................. 112
▫ Inside Day/Night Mirror — If Equipped . . . 112
▫ Automatic Dimming Mirror — If Equipped . . 112
▫ Outside Mirrors ..................... 113
▫ Driver’s Automatic Dimming Mirror — If
Equipped .......................... 114
▫ Outside Mirror Folding Feature .......... 114
▫ Power Mirrors — If Equipped ........... 114
▫ Heated Mirrors — If Equipped ........... 115▫
Tilt Mirrors In Reverse (Available With
Memory Seat Only) — If Equipped ........ 116
▫ Power Folding Mirrors — If Equipped ..... 116
▫ Illuminated Vanity Mirrors — If Equipped . . 116
 Blind Spot Monitoring — If Equipped ....... 117
▫ Rear Cross Path ..................... 123
▫ Modes Of Operation .................. 124
 Uconnect™ Phone — If Equipped .......... 125
▫ Operation ......................... 128
3

Driver Memory Seat — If Equipped ........ 192
▫ Setting Memory Positions And Linking RKE
Transmitter To Memory ................ 192
▫ Easy Entry/Exit Seat (Available With
Memory Seat Only) ................... 195
 To Open And Close The Hood ............ 196
 Lights ............................. 198
▫ Headlight Switch .................... 198
▫ Automatic Headlights — If Equipped ...... 199
▫ Headlights On With Wipers — If Equipped . . 199
▫ Headlight Delay — If Equipped .......... 199
▫ Lights-On Reminder .................. 200
▫ Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped .... 200
▫ Front Fog Lights — If Equipped .......... 200▫
Dimmer Controls .................... 201
▫ Multifunction Lever .................. 203
▫ Turn Signals ........................ 203
▫ Lane Change Assist ................... 204
▫ High/Low Beam Switch ............... 204
▫ Flash-To-Pass ....................... 204
▫ Battery Protection .................... 204
 Windshield Wiper And Washers ........... 204
▫ Intermittent Wiper System .............. 205
▫ Windshield Wiper Operation ............ 206
▫ Windshield Washers .................. 206
▫ Mist Feature ........................ 206
▫ Rear Wiper And Washer ............... 206
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 107

▫Sunroof Maintenance ................. 244
▫ Ignition Off Operation ................. 244
▫ Sunroof Fully Closed .................. 244
 Electrical Power Outlets — If Equipped ...... 244
 Power Inverter — If Equipped ............ 249
 Cupholders .......................... 250
▫ Instrument Panel Cupholders ............ 250
▫ Super Console — If Equipped ........... 251
▫ Premium Console Cupholders —
If Equipped ........................ 252
▫ Interior Bottle Holders ................ 252
▫ Smoker’s Package Kit — If Equipped ...... 253
Storage ............................. 254
▫ Glove Compartments ................. 254
▫ Door Trim Panel Storage ............... 255
▫ Driver Seatback Storage — If Equipped .... 256
▫ Umbrella Holder ..................... 256
▫ Second Row Seat Storage Bins —
If Equipped ........................ 257
▫ Storage Bin Safety Warning ............. 258
▫ Coat Hooks ........................ 260
▫ Cargo Area Storage ................... 260
 Console Features ...................... 261
▫ Basic Console ....................... 261
▫ Premium Console — If Equipped ......... 262
110 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE