2013 HONDA ODYSSEY ESP

23Quick Reference Guide
A Few Words About SafetyYour safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And
operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.
To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels and
in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that
could hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You
must use your own good judgement.You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,
including:
●Safety Labels - on the vehicle.
●Safety Messages - preceded by a safety alert symbol
3
and
one of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.
These signal words mean:
●Safety Headings - such as Important Safety Precautions.
●Safety Section - such as Safe Driving.
●Instructions - how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information - please
read it carefully.
3DANGER
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don't follow instructions.
3WARNING
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if
you don't follow instructions.
3CAUTION
You CAN be HURT if you don't follow
instructions.

26Safe Driving
For Safe DrivingThe following pages explain your vehicle's safety features and how to use them
properly. The safety precautions below are ones that we consider to be among the
most important.Important Safety Precautions■Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped
with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly.■Restrain all children
Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat, not the
front seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger
children should use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder seat belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat.■Be aware of airbag hazards
While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants
who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children,
and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.■Don't drink and drive
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to
changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink.
So don't drink and drive, and don't let your friends drink and drive, either.
1Important Safety Precautions
Some states, provinces and territories prohibit the use
of cell phones other than hands-free devices by the
driver while driving.

Continued
43
uuAirbagsuFront 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
1How the Front Airbags Work
After a front airbag inflates in a crash, you may see
what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from
the airbag's surface. Although the powder is not
harmful, people with respiratory problems may
experience some temporary discomfort. If this occurs,
get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
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.

55
uuChild SafetyuProtecting Child Passengers
Safe Driving
•Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap belt
portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
•Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the
event of a collision.
•Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
•Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very
seriously injured in a crash.
•Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.
•Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.
1Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger's front airbag
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions
on these labels.
2Safety Labels P. 69
3
WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or
wrap one around their neck can result in
serious injury or death.
Instruct children not to play with any seat
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted,
and locked.

77
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
Door and Tailgate
Open Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
, then goes off.
●Comes on if any door or the tailgate
is not completely closed.●The beeper sounds and the indicator
comes on if any door or the tailgate
is opened while driving.
●Goes off when all doors and tailgate are
closed.
Parking Sensor
Indicator
*
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
, then goes off.
●A corresponding indicator comes on
when an obstacle is detected while
parking.●Comes on if there is a problem with
the parking sensor system. The
beeper sounds.
●Comes on without any obstacles or
when you are not parking - Check if
the area around the sensor(s) is covered
with mud, ice, snow, etc. If the
indicator(s) stays on even after you
clean the area, have the system checked
by a dealer.
—
Daytime Running
Lights Indicator
*
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
, then goes off.
●Comes on if there is a problem with
the DRL system.
●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Daytime Running Lights P. 143
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
*
* Not available on all models

119Controls
Opening and Closing the TailgatePrecautions for Opening/Closing the TailgateAlways make sure individuals and objects are clear of the tailgate before opening or
closing it.■Opening the tailgate
•Open the tailgate all the way.
uIf it is not fully opened, the tailgate may begin to close under its own weight.
•Be careful when it is windy. The wind may cause the tailgate to close.■Closing the tailgate
Keep the tailgate closed while driving to:
uAvoid possible damage.
uPrevent exhaust gas from leaking into the vehicle.2Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 68
1Precautions for Opening/Closing the Tailgate
Be careful not to hit your head on the tailgate or to
put your hands between the tailgate and the cargo
area.
When operating the power tailgate, make sure there
is enough space around your vehicle. People near the
tailgate may be seriously hurt if the tailgate hits their
head or closes on their heads. Be especially cautious
if children are around.
When you are storing or picking up luggage from the
cargo area while the engine is idling, do not stand in
front of the exhaust pipe. You may get burned.
Do not allow any passenger in the cargo space. They
may get hurt during hard braking, a sudden
acceleration, or a crash.
3
WARNING
Closing a power tailgate while anyone is in
the path of the tailgate can cause serious
injury.
Make sure everyone is clear before closing
the tailgate.Models with power tailgate

127
uuOpening and Closing the Sliding DoorsuOpening/Closing the Power Sliding Doors
*
Continued
Controls
Opening/Closing the Power Sliding Doors
*
The power sliding doors can be operated by pressing the power sliding door button
on the remote transmitter, pressing the power sliding door switches on the
dashboard or door pillars, or using the door handle.
The power sliding doors can be operated when:
•The sliding door main switch is in the ON position.
•The power sliding door is unlocked.
•The fuel fill door is closed (on the driver side sliding door only).
•The key is not in the ignition switch when using the remote transmitter.
•The shift lever is in
(P
, the brake pedal is depressed, or the parking brake is
applied (with the ignition switch in ON
(w
) when using the power sliding door
switches on the dashboard.
1Opening/Closing the Power Sliding Doors
*
If you move the shift lever out of P, and release the
brake pedal and the parking brake:
While opening – The sliding door stops and is left
ajar.
While closing – The beeper sounds until the door
closes.
Check that passengers, especially children, do not
have their hands on the sliding doors or on the door
pillars before its operation. If someone is caught in
the opening or closing sliding door, it can cause
serious injury.
Before replacing a rear tire, turn the power sliding
door main switch to OFF.
Operate the power sliding doors only when the
vehicle is at a complete stop. Make sure you apply the
brake when rear passengers are boarding or exiting.
* Not available on all models

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129
uuOpening and Closing the Sliding DoorsuOpening/Closing the Power Sliding Doors
*
Controls
The power sliding door opens when you press
the OPEN side of the / switch, and
closes when you press the CLOSE side of the
/ switch.
While the power sliding door is in operation, if
you press the switch that corresponds to that
power sliding door, the beeper sounds and
the operation stops.
To resume the power sliding door operation,
press the same switch again.
■
Power Sliding Door Switches
1Opening/Closing the Power Sliding Doors
*
Auto Reverse
Do not touch the pinch sensor located at the front
edge of the power sliding door. Do not damage the
sensor. The power sliding door may not operate
properly.
If the power sliding door senses resistance when
closing automatically, it will stop closing and reverse
direction. The beeper sounds.
Before the power sliding door operation, make sure
there are no people or obstacles near the door. The
auto reverse function should be activated in case of
emergency only. If someone is caught in the opening
or closing sliding door, it can cause serious injury. Pay
special attention to children.
Closing a power sliding door on someone’s hand or
fingers can cause serious injury. Some parts of the
door edge do not sense resistance when the door is
near closing.
Pinch
Sensor
* Not available on all models