2012 HONDA CIVIC Owners Manual

uuAdjusting the SeatsuAdjusting the Seat Positions
128
Controls
Adjust the driver's seat-back to a comfortable,
upright position, leaving ample space
between your chest and the airbag cover in
the center of the steering wheel.
The front seat passenger should also adjust
their seat-back to a comfortable, upright
position.
Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the
occupant's chest reduces the protective capabil ity of the belt. It also increases the
chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a
seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.
■Adjusting the Seat-Backs1Adjusting the Seat-Backs
Do not put a cushion, or other object, between the
seat-back and your back.
Doing so may interfere with proper seat belt or airbag
operation.
If you cannot get far enough away from the steering
wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some type of adaptive
equipment may help.
3WARNING
Reclining the seat-back too far can result in
serious injury or death in a crash.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position,
and sit well back in the seat.

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uuAdjusting the SeatsuAdjusting the Seat Positions
Controls
Your vehicle is equipped with head restraints
in all seating positions.
Head restraints are most effective for
protection against whiplash and other rear-
impact crash injuries when the center of the
back of the occupant's head rests against the
center of the restraint. The tops of the
occupant's ears should be level with the
center height of the restraint.
■ Adjusting the front head restraint positions
To raise the head restraint: Pull it upward.
To lower the head restraint: Push it down
while pressing the release button.
■Adjusting the Head Restraints1Adjusting the Head Restraints
For a head restraint system to work properly: • Do not hang any items on the head restraints, or
from the restraint legs.
• Do not place any object between an occupant and
the seat-back.
• Install each restraint in its proper location.
3WARNING
Improperly positioning head restraints
reduces their effectiveness and increases
the likelihood of serious injury in a crash.
Make sure head restraints are in place and
positioned properly before driving.
Position head in the center
of the head restraint.

uuAdjusting the SeatsuAdjusting the Seat Positions
130
Controls
A passenger sitting in a back seating position
should adjust the height of their head restraint
to an appropriate position before the vehicle
begins moving.
To raise the head restraint:
Pull it upward.
To lower the head restraint:
Push it down while pressing the release
button.
Head restraints can be removed for cleaning or repair.
To remove a head restraint:
Pull the restraint up as far as it will go. Then push the release button, and pull the
restraint up and out.
To reinstall a head restraint:
Insert the legs back in place, then adjust the head restraint to an appropriate height
while pressing the release button. Pull up on the restraint to make sure it is locked
in position.
■Changing the Rear Seat Head Restraint Positions
■Removing and Reinstallin g the Head Restraints1Removing and Reinstalling the Head Restraints
3WARNING
Failure to reinstall, or correctly reinstall, the
head restraints can result in severe injury
during a crash.
Always replace the head restraints before
driving.

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uuAdjusting the SeatsuAdjusting the Seat Positions
Controls
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and head restraints, and put on their
seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their
seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is safely parked and the engine is off.
Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or
sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.
In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or
fatally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an inflating front airbag.
■Maintain a Proper Sitting Position1Maintain a Proper Sitting Position
3WARNING
Sitting improperly or out of position can
result in serious injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in the seat,
with your feet on the floor.

132
uuAdjusting the SeatsuRear Seats
Controls
Rear Seats1.Remove the center shoulder belt from the
guide.
2. Pull the release lever in the trunk to release
the lock.
3. Fold the seat-back down.
If the rear head restraints get caught on the
front seat-backs, remove the head restraints. 2 Removing and Reinstalling the Head
Restraints P. 130
■Folding Down the Rear Seats1Folding Down the Rear Seats
The rear seat-back(s *
) can be folded down to
accommodate bulkier items in the trunk.
Never drive with the seat-back folded down and the
trunk lid open.
2 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 62
To lock the seat-back upright, push it backwards until
it locks.
When returning a seat-back to its original position,
push it firmly back. Also, make sure all rear shoulder
belts are positioned in front of the seat-back, and the
center shoulder belt is re-positioned in the guide.
Make sure that the folded seat-back does not press against the front passenger seat, as this can cause the
weight sensors in the front passenger seat to work
improperly. 2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 47
Also make sure all items in the trunk or items
extending through the opening into the rear
seats are properly secured. Loose items can fly
forward if you have to brake hard.
Guide
Center
Shoulder
Belt
Release Lever
* Not available on all models

133
uuAdjusting the SeatsuArmrest
Controls
ArmrestPull down the armrest in the center seat-back.
■Using the Rear Seat Armrest *
* Not available on all models

134
Controls
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items
Interior Lights■ON
The interior lights come on regardless of
whether the doors are open or closed. ■ Door activated
The interior lights come on in the following
situations: • When any of the doors are opened.
• You unlock the driver's door.
• You remove the key from the ignition
switch.
■ OFF
The interior lights remain off regardless of
whether the doors are open or closed.
The map lights can be turned on and off by
pressing the lenses.
■Interior Light Switches1Interior Light Switches
In the door activated position, the interior lights fade
out and go off about 30 seconds after the doors are closed.
The lights go off after 30 seconds in the following
situations:• When you unlock the driver's door but do not open it.
• When you remove the key from the ignition switch
but do not open a door.
You can change the interior lights dimming time. 2 Customized Features P. 86
The interior lights go off immediately in the following
situations: • When you lock the driver's door.
• When you close the driver's door with the key in
the ignition switch.
• When you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w .
If you leave any of the doors open without the key in
the ignition switch, the interior lights go off after
about 15 minutes.
Models with multi-information display
All models
Door Activated Position
Off
Front
Door Activated Position
On
Off
Rear
■Map Lights
*
1Map Lights
When the ceiling light switch is in the door activated
position and any door is open, the map light will not
go off when you press the lens.
* Not available on all models

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uuInterior Lights/Interior Convenience ItemsuInterior Convenience Items
Continued
Controls
Interior Convenience ItemsPull the handle to open the glove box.
Pull the handle to open the console compartment.
■Glove Box1Glove Box
3WARNING
An open glove box can cause serious injury
to your passenger in a crash, even if the
passenger is wearing the seat belt.
Always keep the glove box closed while
driving.
■Console Compartment