
31
uuFor Safe Driving uYour Vehicle's Safety Features
Safe Driving
For the safety of you and your passengers, make a habit of checking these items 
each time before you drive.
• After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors are closed and locked. 
Locking the doors helps prevent an occupant from being ejected and an outsider 
from unexpectedly opening a door.
2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside  P. 116
•Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are 
adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the 
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a 
crash.
2 Adjusting the Seats  P. 148
•Adjust head restraints to the proper position. Head restraints are most effective 
when the center of the head restraint aligns with the center of your head. Taller 
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.
2 Adjusting the Head Restraints  P. 151
•Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any 
passengers are properly belted as well.
2 Fastening a Seat Belt  P. 35
•Protect children by using seat belts or child seats according to a child's age, height 
and weight.
2 Child Safety  P. 52
■Safety CheckList
1Safety CheckList
If the door and trunk open indicator is on, a door 
and/or the trunk is not completely closed. Close all 
doors and the trunk tightly until the indicator goes 
off.
2 Door and Trunk Open Indicator  P. 74Models with information displayModels with multi-information display 

uuSeat Belts uAbout Your Seat Belts
34Safe Driving
The front seats are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners to enhance safety.
The tensioners automatically tighten the front seat belts during a moderate-to-
severe frontal collision, sometimes even if the collision is not severe enough to 
inflate the front airbags.■Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners
1Automatic Seat B elt Tensioners
The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will come 
on. Have a dealer replace the tensioner and 
thoroughly inspect the seat belt system as it may not 
offer protection in a subsequent crash.
During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the 
tensioner on that side of the vehicle also activates. 

40
uuAirbags uAirbag System Components
Safe Driving
The front, front side, and side curtain 
airbags are deployed according to the 
direction and severity of impact. Both side 
curtain airbags are deployed in a rollover. 
The airbag system includes:aTwo SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) 
front airbags. The driver's airbag is stored 
in the center of the steering wheel; the 
front passenger's airbag is stored in the 
dashboard. Both are marked SRS 
AIRBAG.bTwo side airbags, one for the driver and 
one for a front passenger. The airbags are 
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked  SIDE AIRBAG.cTwo side curtain airbags, one for each 
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored 
in the ceiling, above the side windows. 
The front and rear pillars are marked 
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG .
dAn electronic control unit that continually 
monitors and records information about 
the sensors, the airbag activators, the 
seat belt tensioners, and driver and front 
passenger seat belt use when the ignition 
switch is in ON 
(w*1.
eAutomatic front seat belt tensioners. The 
driver's and front passenger's seat belts 
incorporate sensors that detect whether 
or not they are fastened.fA driver's seat position sensor. If the seat 
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate 
with less force.gWeight sensors in the front passenger's 
seat. The front passenger's airbag will be 
turned off if the weight on the seat is 65 
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant 
or small child).
hImpact sensors that can detect a 
moderate-to-severe front or side 
collision.iAn indicator on the dashboard that alerts 
you that the front passenger's front 
airbag has been turned off.jAn indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you to a possible problem with your 
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.kSafing SensorlA rollover sensor that detects whether 
the vehicle is about to roll over.*1: Models with the smart entry system have an 
ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an 
ignition switch. 

Continued
43
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions. 
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control 
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.
A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a 
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.
While your seat belt restrains your torso, the 
front airbag provides supplemental protection 
for your head and chest.
The front airbags deflate immediately so that 
they won't interfere with the driver's visibility 
or the ability to steer or operate other 
controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not 
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.■Operation■How the Front Airbags Work
1 How the Front Airbags Work
Although the driver's and front passenger's airbags 
normally inflate within a split second of each other, it 
is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can 
happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, 
or threshold, that determines whether or not the 
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will 
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental 
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal. 

44
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
■When front airbags should not deploy
Minor frontal crashes:  Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and 
help save lives, not to prevent minor sc rapes, or even broken bones that might occur 
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts:  Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration 
causes a driver or front passenger to move towards the front of the vehicle. Side 
airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the 
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which 
can cause the driver or passenger to move towards the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts:  Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear 
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not designed 
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers:  Seat belts and, in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side airbags 
and side curtain airbags offer the best protection in a rollover. Because front airbags 
could provide little if any protection, they are not designed to deploy during a 
rollover.■When front airbags  deploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the 
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy. 
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object 
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is 
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.■When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage 
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of 
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some 
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags 
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they 
had deployed. 

45
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
Your front airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag 
related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver's advanced front airbag system 
includes a seat position sensor.
If the seat is too far forward, the airbag 
inflates with less force, regardless of the 
severity of the impact.
The passenger's advanced front airbag system 
has weight sensors.
Although we recommend against carrying an 
infant or small child in front, if the sensors 
detect the weight of a child (up to about 65 
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically 
turn off the passenger's front airbag.■Advanced Airbags
1Advanced Airbags
If there is a problem with the driver's seat position 
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and the airbag 
will inflate with full (normal) force, regardless of the 
driver's seating position.
For both advanced front airbags to work properly:•Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats.•Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.•Make sure any objects are positioned properly on 
the floor. Improperly positioned objects can 
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.•All occupants should sit upright and wear their seat 
belts properly.•Do not place any cover over the passenger side 
dashboard.
Driver’s 
Seat 
Position 
Sensor
Passenger’s 
Seat 
Weight 
Sensors 

Continued
49
uuAirbags uAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving
■When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision
One or both side curtain airbags may inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled frontal 
collision.
In this case, the side curtain airbags will deploy slightly after the front airbags.Airbag System IndicatorsIf a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a 
message appears on the multi-information display
*.
■When the ignition switc h is turned to 
ON 
(w*1
The indicator comes on for a few seconds, 
then goes off. This tells you the system is 
working properly.
If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the 
system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don't, your airbags and seat 
belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.
*1: Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP  button instead of an 
ignition switch.■SRS (Supplemental Re straint System) Indicator
1SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
3
WARNING
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in 
serious injury or death  if the airbag systems 
or tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as 
soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts 
you to a possible problem.
*
* Not available on all models 

uuAirbags uAirbag System Indicators
50Safe Driving
■When the passenger airbag off 
indicator comes on
The indicator comes on to alert you that the 
passenger's front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the front passenger’s weight 
sensors detect 65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the 
weight of an infant or small child, on the seat.
Infants and small children should always ride properly restrained in a back seat.
2 Child Safety  P. 52Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.
If the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger's front airbag will not deploy and 
the indicator will not come on.■Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
If the indicator comes on with no front passenger and 
no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an adult 
riding there, something may be interfering with the 
weight sensors. Such as:•An object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back 
pocket.•A child seat or other object pressing against the 
rear of the seat-back.•A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of 
the front passenger's seat.•The front seat or seat-back is forced back against 
an object on the seat or floor behind it.•An object placed under the front passenger's seat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and 
goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is 
near the airbag cutoff threshold.
U.S. Canada