2013 NISSAN GT-R Owners Manual

1-32Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
Sit upright and well back.
Sit upright and well back.
WARNING
.The front air bags ordinarily will not
inflate in the event of a side impact,
rear impact, rollover, or lower se-
verity frontal collision. Always wear
your seat belts to help reduce the
risk or severity of injury in various
kinds of accidents.
. The front passenger air bag will not
inflate if the passenger air bag
status light is lit or if the front
passenger seat is unoccupied.
(
“Front passenger air bag and
status light” page 1-38)
. The seat belts and the front air bags
are most effective when you are
sitting well back and upright in the
seat. The front air bags inflate with
great force. Even with the NISSAN
Advanced Air Bag System, if you are
unrestrained, leaning forward, sit-
ting sideways or out of position in
any way, you are at greater risk of
injury or death in a crash. You may
also receive serious or fatal injuries
from the front air bag if you are up
against it when it inflates. Always sit

back against the seatback and as
far-away as practical from the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel. Al-
ways use the seat belts.
. The driver and front passenger seat
belt buckles are equipped with
sensors that detect if the seat belts
are fastened. The Advanced Air Bag
System monitors the severity of a
collision and seat belt usage then
inflates the air bags as needed.
Failure to properly wear seat belts
can increase the risk or severity of
injury in an accident.
. The front passenger seat is
equipped with an occupant classifi-
cation sensor (pattern sensor) that
turns the front passenger air bag
OFF under some conditions. This
sensor is only used in this seat.
Failure to be properly seated and
wearing the seat belt can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an
accident. (
“Front passenger air
bag and status light” page 1-38)
. Keep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could in- crease the risk of hand injury if the
supplemental front air bag inflates.
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-33

1-34Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
WARNING
.Never let children ride unrestrained
or extend their hands or face out of
the window. Do not attempt to hold
them in your lap or arms. Some
examples of dangerous riding posi-
tions are shown in the illustrations.
. Children may be severely injured or
killed when the front air bags, side
air bags or curtain air bags inflate if
they are not properly restrained.
Pre-teens and children should be
properly restrained in the rear seat,
if possible.
. Even with the NISSAN Advanced Air
Bag System, never install a rear-
facing child restraint in the front
seat. An inflating supplemental
front air bag could seriously injure
or kill your child. (
“Child re-
straints” page 1-14)

Do not lean against doors or windows.Do not lean against doors or windows.
WARNING
Front seat-mounted side-impact sup-
plemental air bag and roof-mounted
curtain side-impact supplemental air
bag:
.The side air bags and curtain air
bags ordinarily will not inflate in the
event of a frontal impact, rear im-
pact, rollover or lower severity side
collision. Always wear your seat
belts to help reduce the risk or
severity of injury in various kinds
of accidents.
. The seat belts, side air bags and
curtain air bags are most effective
when you are sitting well back and
upright in the seat. The side air bags
and curtain air bags inflate with
great force. Do not allow anyone to
place their hand, leg or face near the
side air bag on the side of the
seatback of the front seat or near
the side roof rails. Do not allow
anyone sitting in the front seat to
extend their hand out of the window
or lean against the door. Some
examples of dangerous riding posi-
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-35

1-36Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
tions are shown in the previous
illustrations.
. When sitting in the rear seat, do not
hold onto the seatback of the front
seat. If the supplemental side air
bag inflates, you may be seriously
injured. Be especially careful with
children, who should always be
properly restrained. Some examples
of dangerous riding positions are
shown in the illustrations.
. Do not use seat covers on the front
seatbacks. They may interfere with
side air bag inflation.
1. Crash zone sensor
2. Supplemental front-impact air bag modules
(NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System)
3. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
4. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags 5. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental
air bag inflators
6. Occupant classification sensor (pattern sensor)
7. Occupant classification system control unit
8. Satellite sensors
9. Seat belt pretensioners
10. Air bag Control Unit (ACU)

NISSAN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYS-
TEM (front seats)
This vehicle is equipped with the NISSAN
Advanced Air Bag System for the driver and
front passenger seats. This system is designed
to meet certification requirements under U.S.
regulations. It is also permitted in Canada.
However, all of the information, cautions
and warnings in this manual still apply and
must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air bag is
located in the center of the steering wheel. The
front passenger supplemental front-impact air
bag is mounted in the instrument panel above
the glove box. The front air bags are designed to
inflate in higher severity frontal collisions,
although they may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. They may not inflate in
certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack
of it) is not always an indication of proper front
air bag operation.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System has
dual stage air bag inflators. The system monitors
information from the Air bag Control Unit (ACU) ,
seat belt buckle sensors and the occupant
classification sensor (pattern sensor). Inflator
operation is based on the severity of a collision
and seat belt usage for the driver. For the frontpassenger, the occupant classification sensor is
also monitored. Based on information from the
sensors, only one front air bag may inflate in a
crash, depending on the crash severity and
whether the front occupants are belted or
unbelted. Additionally, the front passenger air
bag may be automatically turned OFF under
some conditions, depending on the information
provided by the occupant classification sensor.
If the front passenger air bag is OFF, the
passenger air bag status light will be illuminated
(if the seat is unoccupied, the light will not be
illuminated, but the air bag will be off) . One front
air bag inflating does not indicate improper
performance of the system. (
“Front pas-
senger air bag and status light” page 1-38)
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, contact NISSAN or a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer. If you are considering modifica-
tion of your vehicle due to a disability, you may
also contact NISSAN. Contact information is
contained in the front of this Owner’s Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate
a fire. Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it
may cause irritation and choking. Those with a
history of a breathing condition should get fresh
air promptly. Front air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the head
and chest of the front occupants. They can help
save lives and reduce serious injuries. However,
an inflating front air bag may cause facial
abrasions or other injuries. Front air bags do
not provide restraint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN advanced air bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the driver
and passenger seated upright as far as practical
away from the steering wheel or instrument
panel. The front air bags inflate quickly in order
to help protect the front occupants. Because of
this, the force of the front air bag inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is too
close to, or is against, the air bag module during
inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.
The front air bags operate only when the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
After pushing the ignition switch to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-37

1-38Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
Front passenger air bag status light
Front passenger air bag and status
light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed
to automatically turn OFF under some
conditions. Read this section carefully
to learn how it operates. Proper use of
the seat, seat belt and child restraints is
necessary for most effective protection.
Failure to follow all instructions in this
manual concerning the use of seats,
seat belts and child restraints canincrease the risk or severity of injury in
an accident.
Status light:
The front passenger air bag status light
is
located on the center instrument panel. After the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position, the
front passenger air bag status light on the
instrument panel illuminates for about 7 seconds
and then turns off or operates depending on the
front passenger seat occupied status. The light
operates as follows:
. Unoccupied passenger seat: The
is
OFF and the front passenger air bag is OFF
and will not inflate in a crash.
. Passenger seat occupied by a small adult,
child or child restraint as outlined in this
section: The
illuminates to indicate that
the front passenger air bag is OFF and will
not inflate in a crash.
. Occupied passenger seat and the passen-
ger meets the conditions outlined in this
section: The light
is OFF to indicate
that the front passenger air bag is opera-
tional. Front passenger air bag:
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as described
below as permitted by U.S. regulations. If the
front passenger air bag is OFF, it will not inflate
in a crash. The driver air bag and other air bags
in your vehicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help reduce
the risk of injury or death from an inflating air bag
to certain front passenger seat occupants, such
as children, by requiring the air bag to be
automatically turned OFF.
The occupant classification sensor (pattern
sensor) is in the front passenger seat cushion
and is designed to detect an occupant and
objects on the seat. For example, if a child is in
the front passenger seat, the Advanced Air Bag
System is designed to turn the passenger air
bag OFF in accordance with the regulations.
Also, if a child restraint of the type specified in
the regulations is on the seat, the occupant
classification sensor can detect it and cause the
air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who are
properly seated and using the seat belt as
outlined in this manual should not cause the
passenger air bag to be automatically turned
OFF. For small adults it may be turned OFF,

however, if the occupant does not sit in the seat
properly (for example, by not sitting upright, by
sitting on an edge of the seat, or by otherwise
being out of position) , this could cause the
sensor to turn the air bag OFF. Always be sure
to be seated and wearing the seat belt properly
for the most effective protection by the seat belt
and supplemental air bag.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and chil-
dren be properly restrained in a rear seat.
NISSAN also recommends that appropriate
child restraints and booster seats be properly
installed in a rear seat. If this is not possible, the
occupant classification sensor is designed to
operate as described above to turn the front
passenger air bag OFF for specified child
restraints. Failing to properly secure child
restraints and to use the Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR) mode (child restraint mode)
may allow the restraint to tip or move in an
accident or sudden stop. This can also result in
the passenger air bag inflating in a crash instead
of being OFF. (
“Child restraints” page 1-
14)
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the
passenger air bag is designed not to inflate in a
crash. However, heavy objects placed on the
seat could result in air bag inflation, because of
the object being detected by the occupant classification sensor. Other conditions could
also result in air bag inflation, such as if a child is
standing on the seat, or if two children are on the
seat, contrary to the instructions in this manual.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated and restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light, you can
monitor when the front passenger air bag is
automatically turned OFF with the seat occu-
pied. The light will not illuminate when the front
passenger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
passenger air bag status light is illuminated
(indicating that the air bag is OFF) , it could be
that the person is a small adult, or is not sitting
on the seat properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front seat,
the passenger air bag status light may or may
not be illuminated, depending on the size of the
child and the type of child restraint being used. If
the passenger air bag status light is not
illuminated (indicating that the air bag might
inflate in a crash), it could be that the child
restraint or seat belt is not being used properly.
Make sure that the child restraint is installed
properly, the seat belt is used properly and the
occupant is positioned properly. If the passen-
ger air bag status light is still not illuminated,
reposition the occupant or child restraint in arear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not
illuminate even though you believe that the child
restraint, the seat belts and the occupant are
properly positioned, the system may be sensing
an unoccupied seat (in which case the air bag is
OFF). Your GT-R certified NISSAN dealer can
check that the system is OFF by using a special
tool. However, until you have confirmed with
your dealer that your air bag is working properly,
reposition the occupant or child restraint in a
rear seat.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System and
passenger air bag status light will take a few
seconds to register a change in the passenger
seat status. However, if the seat becomes
unoccupied, the air bag status light will remain
off.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger air
bag system, the supplemental air bag warning
light
, located in the meter and gauges area
will blink. Have the system checked by a GT-R
certified NISSAN dealer.
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-39